Should I Worry About Seroma?

Date: Sep-14-2016 A seroma is the buildup of fluids in a place on the body where tissue has been removed. They often occur as a complication of surgery but can also develop after an injury.

Seromas are most commonly seen in the breast area of women after surgeries to treat breast cancer. Other procedures that can cause seromas include:

Breast reduction

Breast implant

Breast biopsy

Plastic surgery

Plastic reconstructive surgery

The formation of seromas is the body's response to dead space within tissue that was attached to something before surgery.

Surgeons expect seromas to develop after surgical procedures or where any skin break occurs. In most cases, seromas are harmless and are allowed to heal naturally. Seromas are not related to cancer cells and pose no increased risk or concern.

Contents of this article:

Causes of seroma

Treatment of seroma

Caring for the area of surgery at home

Causes of seroma

Seromas tend to appear 7-10 days after surgery once drainage tubes have been removed. Areas involved in the surgery may develop spots that are swollen and feel like liquid under the skin.

Surgery causes damage to the blood and lymph vessels and surrounding tissue. The body senses that damage has been done and responds by flooding the area with a clear fluid.

An inflammatory response occurs. This is why there is pain and swelling after surgery. In some cases, the fluid forms a pocket, which leads to the formation of a seroma.

Seromas are most commonly seen in the breast area after breast cancer surgery, breast implants, or reduction.

Seromas are filled with a yellowish-to-white fluid called serous fluid. This is the same fluid commonly seen in blisters and fresh cuts.

Seromas form lumps under the skin. These lumps can be tested to determine whether they contain serous fluid instead of pus, blood, or another fluid.

The exact origin of the seroma is not entirely clear. However, there are a few risk factors that can increase the chances of development:

Age

Breast size

Presence and number of cancerous nodes in the armpit

Previous biopsy surgery

Use of drugs called heparin or tamoxifen

Similar conditions to seromas

There are conditions that are sometimes mistakenly identified as seromas.

Hematoma: A collection of blood in dead space in the body. It is generally caused by a small blood vessel opening up while someone is recovering from surgery. Hematomas must be drained because they can be painful, lead to scarring, and cause infection.

Lymphoceles: The abnormal buildup of lymphatic fluid following a surgical procedure.

Abscess: A painful collection of pus that is generally due to a bacterial infection. Pus is a thick fluid that contains white blood cells, dead tissue, and germs. Most abscesses form under the skin but can occur inside the body in an organ or space between organs.

Treatment of seroma

Most seromas heal naturally and are reabsorbed back into the body within a month. In more severe cases, it can take up to a year for them to be reabsorbed. The area may experience hardening once the seroma heals.

If the area becomes painful or the seroma does not show any improvement, a doctor can drain it. Depending on the severity, a seroma may have to be trained more than once.

Prolonged drainage can increase the risk of infection and further delay the healing process.

Seromas are now often considered a side effect of surgery rather than a complication.

A process called fine-needle aspiration is sometimes used to drain the area. It is also a good way to monitor the volume of fluid leakage.

If seromas become a reoccurring problem and have to be drained often, one option is to fit the person with a drainage tube to keep the area clear. Drainage increases the risk of infection and should be performed in a clean environment by a medical professional.

If the seroma does not improve or the symptoms worsen, the person should tell a doctor. Always contact a doctor if:

The amount of fluid seems to be increasing

The seroma is putting pressure on the area of surgery or injury

Signs of infection develop such as redness, warmth, and tenderness

The swelling of the area increases

The seroma may take a few weeks to drain on its own. Letting a seroma drain on its own is the best way to heal naturally as long as no complications arise.

Heat can be applied to the area to help it heal quicker. A heating pad or hot compress can be applied for about 15 minutes every few hours. This helps with fluid drainage while providing additional comfort to the incision area.

People should make sure that the heat is not too hot and the compress is not left on the area for a long time. Too much heat can lead to additional fluid buildup in the seroma. Keeping the area elevated may also help to increase drainage depending on the area affected.

If the seroma gets bigger or puts excessive pressure on the skin or an organ, the area will be drained. Seromas can increase the chances of a surgical site infection, so it is important that they are carefully monitored.

Risks of surgery

In some patients, the best option may be to leave the seroma alone. For cancer patients, one concern with seromas is that they can sometimes delay additional cancer treatments.

Seromas are now often considered a side effect of surgery rather than a complication, but all patients do not develop seromas.

Typically, seromas form right after surgery when drains are not used. A seroma can still occur up to a month after surgery and the removal of the drains.

Though seromas are a common complication of surgery, there are some things that can be done to help prevent them from forming.

Closed suction drainage for several days is one of the main options to help reduce seroma formation. New techniques attempt to reduce the amount of dead space created to help prevent seromas forming.

Caring for the area of surgery at home

After surgery, a tight bandage is usually applied to the treatment area. Dressings help to keep the area clean and free from bacteria. They also keep it from being stretched and reduce fluid collection.

Compression garments such as compression stockings are recommended after surgery.

After a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or even a breast reduction is performed, the patient is told to wear a tight bra to put pressure on the surgical site. This helps to lessen the risk of fluid leaks and speeds up healing.

Patients are recommended to wear compression garments for at least 2 weeks after surgery and to gently massage the area to help move the fluid out.

It is important to keep the wound clean to keep out bacteria and other germs. Preventing infection at the surgery site is another important way of avoiding the formation of seromas.

A mild buildup of fluid is common after surgery and does not necessary mean a seroma will appear.

Seromas that are infected can be treated with antibiotics or other medicines, and the patient will make a full recovery.

Though most seromas are harmless, patients should pay attention to them. If a seroma becomes extremely large or any other complications develop, patients should contact a doctor. People undergoing surgery should be aware of the signs and symptoms.

Written by Brian Wu

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.