Comparison of four-day and ten-day post-mastectomy passive drainage in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Post-mastectomy passive drains may be removed when drainage is <30 ml in 24 hours. When there is a persistent large volume of axillary drainage, patients should be counselled about the relative risks of early and late drain removal. For patients who do not find seroma aspiration unacceptable, early (day 4) removal appears preferable to late (day 10) removal of drains.