INTRODUCTION: Seroma, hematoma and wound alterations are potential complications following abdominoplasty. Aspiratory drainage and adhesion suture are widely employed strategies for prevention of these complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of adhesion suture in preventing or reducing seroma, hematoma formation and local wound complications in patients undergoing plastic of body countering. METHODS: 115 patients (group 2: January 2006 - June 2010) who underwent plastic of body countering with the use of adhesion suture were retrospectively compared with a group of 39 patients (group 1: January 2004 - December 2005) who underwent with the use aspiratory drainage. Clinical evaluation of the patients was performed seven days, two weeks, one, two, three and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: In group 1, there was 9 (23%) cases of seroma, 1 (2.5%) case of hematoma and 20 (55%) cases of wound complications, whereas in group 2 no seroma or hematoma was reported. In this group, there were 14 (12%) cases of wound complications. Clinical evaluation revealed statistical difference between the use of adhesion suture and the aspiratory drainage in the incidence of seroma and wound complications. CONCLUSION: The use of adhesion suture is an effective measure to prevent seroma, hematoma and wound complications in patients undergoing plastic of body countering.
Abdomen; Seroma; Plastic surgery
