Publication:

Correlation between C-reactive protein, intravenous hydrocortisone, systemic tranexamic acid and post mastectomy seroma

Background Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women worldwide. Formation of a seroma most frequently occurs after mastectomy and axillary surgery. The objective was to find the correlation between the formation of post modified radical mastectomy seroma and C-reactive protein (CRP) and the effect of preoperative intravenous (IV) hydrocortisone, systemic tranexamic acid.

Methods This prospective study was conducted at Menoufia university hospital on female patients with primary operable breast cancer who were divided to two groups; each included 30 patients: group I received general anesthesia with hydrocortisone therapy (Solu-Cortef 100 mg solution once), systemic tranexamic acid (kapron 5 ml once) and group II received general anesthesia without hydrocortisone nor tranexamic acid. CRP serum levels before surgery and 24 hour after the procedure. All patients were followed up postoperatively for registration of the total drainage volume until drain removal, timing of drain removal, incidence of seroma formation and management of seroma.

Results Our results revealed that a significant difference between both groups as regard CRP, the incidence of seroma, time of removing the drain and total collection of the drain in favor to those who received IV hydrocortisone and systemic tranexamic acid.

Conclusions Induction of IV hydrocortisone, systemic tranexamic acid with general anaesthesia during modified radical mastectomy (MRM) are significantly decreasing the level of CRP, the incidence of seroma, time of removing the drain and total collection of the drain.