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Evaluation of the Number of Progressive Tension Sutures Needed to Prevent Seroma in Abdominoplasty with Drains: A Single-Blind, Prospective, Comparative, Randomized Clinical Trial

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  • Body Contouring
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Abstract

Background

Seroma formation has become the most reported complication after abdominoplasties. In 2000, progressive tension sutures (PTS) were described and reported to be associated with a seroma rate of 0.1%. Surgeons worldwide use PTS to prevent seroma; however, there are discrepancies in the number of PTS commonly used, starting from five up to 35 sutures. The absence of standardization may cause a lack of seroma prevention, increased surgical time, and general hesitation to perform the technique.

Objective

To determine whether 11 PTS are sufficient to prevent seroma in abdominoplasties.

Methods

We performed a single-blind, prospective, comparative, randomized clinical trial of 63 healthy patients from January to December 2017. Patients were divided into groups: group 1, classic abdominoplasty without the use of PTS and drains; group 2, abdominoplasty with the use of 11 PTS and drains; and group 3, abdominoplasty with the use of 22 PTS and drains. The duration of the surgical technique, presence of clinical seroma, number of aspirations, and days to drain removal were evaluated. The Cochran–Armitage, Fisher exact, Kruskal–Wallis, and t tests were used in the statistical analyses.

Results

PTS reduced the rate of seroma formation to 3.5%. Results showed that there is a benefit in using 11 PTS instead of 22 PTS because using more sutures led to an increased surgical time (30 min vs. 13 min) and possible complications. Compared to patients with PTS, those without PTS underwent more seroma aspirations and delayed drain removal.

Conclusions

Eleven PTS should be used in classic abdominoplasties.

Level of Evidence I

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Ivo Pitanguy, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Miluska Bromley, Walter Marrou & Luiz Charles-de-Sa

Authors
  1. Miluska Bromley
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  2. Walter Marrou
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  3. Luiz Charles-de-Sa
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Correspondence to Miluska Bromley.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Bromley, Dr. Marrou and Dr. Charles de Sa´ have nothing to disclose.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

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Bromley, M., Marrou, W. & Charles-de-Sa, L. Evaluation of the Number of Progressive Tension Sutures Needed to Prevent Seroma in Abdominoplasty with Drains: A Single-Blind, Prospective, Comparative, Randomized Clinical Trial. Aesth Plast Surg 42, 1600–1608 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-018-1227-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-018-1227-6

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