Suction Drain in Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Malignant Melanoma

Suction Drain Volume Following Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Malignant Melanoma - When to Remove Drains? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Postoperative complications like seroma formation and wound site infection readily occur following completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for malignant melanoma. We analyzed the impact of time-to-drain removal and drainage volume on seroma formation after ALND.

Inclusion Criteria:

• histologically confirmed malignant melanoma
• underwent axillary lymph node dissection (level I-III)
• daily drainage volume records over a two-week period available

Exclusion Criteria:

• daily drainage volume records over a two-week period not available