Drainage and seroma formation according to the size of sterile acellular dermal matrix in direct-to-implant breast reconstruction

Background Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is widely used for prosthetic breast reconstruction. Although many studies have investigated the efficacy and complications of ADM in prosthetic breast reconstruction, studies on drainage and seroma formation according to the size of ADM manufactured using the same process are lacking. This study analyzed drainage and seroma formation according to the size of sterile ADM.Methods From January 2011 to June 2018, the authors retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who underwent direct-to-implant breast reconstruction using MegaDerm at a single institution. The ADMs used were classified as small or large groups. The two groups were compared in terms of the volume and duration time of two closed-suction drains (supramuscular and submuscular drains). Seroma and infection risk were also analyzed.Results Of 344 patients, 69 were included. Among them, 22 patients were in the small-ADM group and 47 patients were in the large-ADM group. The supramuscular drain volume (P=0.295) and time (P=0.365) were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the submuscular (P=0.001) and total drain volume (P=0.004) were higher in the large-ADM group. In addition, seroma occurred significantly more frequently in the large-ADM group (P=0.048), but there was no significant difference in minor infections (P=0.088).Conclusions The size of sterile ADM affected drainage and seroma formation, with a larger size increasing drain volume and seroma risk. This study could provide a clinical basis for the safe usage of large sterile ADM.