The Effect of Octreotide on Wound Drainage After Mastectomy

Patients who had mastectomy for breast cancer usually have drainage of some fluid from the site of surgery. This could be prolonged and may lead to other negative consequences after surgery. Octreotide could potentially reduce the amount of this drainage. In this study, patients were grouped into two: a first group that received octreotide injection and a second group that received a placebo. The study tested whether octreotide injection has any effect on the duration of fluid drainage from the surgery site after mastectomy for breast cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:All female breast cancer patients requiring modified radical mastectomyExclusion Criteria:All mastectomies without axillary clearance (simple and toilet mastectomies)Breast-conserving surgeriesPatients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomyPrevious axillary surgery