Drainage in breast reduction surgery: a prospective randomised intra-patient trail

One hundred and fifty bilateral breast reductions were prospectively randomised intra-operatively to receive a unilateral wound drain. Seven patients required post-operative evacuation of haematoma, three on the drained and four on the undrained sides. There was no statistical difference in haematoma formation between drained and undrained sides (p=1), or the incidence of wound healing or other complications. We believe that routine wound drainage in breast reduction surgery is an unnecessary intervention. (c) 2005 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.