Doxycycline Versus Standard Care to Prevent Seroma Formation

Summary

A seroma is a collection of fluid other than pus or blood which forms through the division of numerous lymphatic channels, which normally drain the interstitial space under the skin. These channels become disrupted during surgical procedure and lead to seroma formation. This collection of fluid causes pressure in the local area, patient discomfort, and provides unfortunately an excellent culture medium for bacteria. Seroma development has been previously described in femoral vessel groin cannulation dissections after surgery. Conventional therapy is limited to draining the fluid, sometimes more than once, until there is full resolution of the seroma. If fluid collection recurs at the surgical site, sclerosant therapy with agents such as doxycycline. Doxycycline has been found to be a cost effective agent used as a sclerosant, which belongs to tetracycline class of antibiotics. The investigators hypothesize that prophylactic use of doxycycline at the site of femoral cannulation will prevent or minimize the area of seroma formation as compared to standard care of patients. The aim is driven towards limiting patient discomfort and visits to the clinic and to improve clinical care.

Timeline

Start

2010-01

Primary completion

2012-11

Completion

2012-11

Publications

• Background Caliendo MV, Lee DE, Queiroz R, Waldman DL. Sclerotherapy with use of doxycycline after percutaneous drainage of postoperative lymphoceles. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2001 Jan;12(1):73-7. doi: 10.1016/s1051-0443(07)61407-9.
• Background Swan MC, Furniss D, Cassell OC. Surgical management of metastatic inguinal lymphadenopathy. BMJ. 2004 Nov 27;329(7477):1272-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.329.7477.1272. No abstract available.
• Background Heffner JE, Standerfer RJ, Torstveit J, Unruh L. Clinical efficacy of doxycycline for pleurodesis. Chest. 1994 Jun;105(6):1743-7. doi: 10.1378/chest.105.6.1743.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.