Comparison Between Aspiration and Incision & Drainage of Breast Abscess

Abstract

Objective: To compare outcomes of needle aspiration and surgical incision and drainage of breast abscess. 

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Services Institute of medical sciences, Lahore from July 2020 to January 2021.

Methods: A total of 60 female patients between the ages of 18 to 65 years presented with unilateral breast abscess were included in the study and divided into 2 equal groups of 30 patients each. Females in Group-NA were treated with ultra sound guided needle aspiration while females in Group-I&D were treated with incision and drainage of the breast abscess. The primary outcomes were set as time taken for the procedure and duration of hospital stay among the two groups.

Results: The Mean±SD of age in this study was 39.93±13.97 years with an age range of 25-58 years. The size of abscess in Group-NA was 7.2±1.71 cm while this size was 6.96±1.56 cm in Group-I&D. The results of the primary outcomes of the study show significantly less time required for procedure in Group-N A compared to Group-I&D (7.2±1.54 Vs 19.96±2.77 minutes, p= 0.000). Similarly mean duration of hospital stay was significantly less in Group-NA compared to Group-I&D (1.63 ± 1.06 Vs 3.23 ± 1.38 days, p=0.000).

Conclusion: Needle aspiration provides the major advantages of less time required for procedure and reduces duration of hospital stay compared to incision & drainage procedure in females with breast abscess.