Seroma: drainage after removing mastectomy catheter

Infreyred

After my bilateral mastectomy, I had trouble with my second catheter site (red, painful, swollen), and called to report an infection about 4 days ago but the doc on call said it was just an irritation and to take another pain pill.

Two days later I had that drain removed. Whereas the first one was a feeling of relief, removing this one was excruciating.

Afterwards I ran a fairly consistent temp. of 101.5 the following 2 days. Yesterday I saw the doctor and the infection had spread to my chest. It is all red. He put me on a super strong antibiotic and if that doesn't kill the infection after 2 days I have to go into the city hospital and have an IV antibiotic. Not sure just why I have to go there.

What alarmed me late last night is that fluid began literally gushing out of the catheter opening, enough to saturate an entire abdominal pad. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Could the silicon bag have been torn? It is just dripping this morning, not squirting, I am reading about seroma, which sounds like a possibility ...,

🙏🏼💜🤗💕

misbehavinggirls

What does the fluid look/smell like? Is it serous like what was in your drains (clear pink tinged yellow, odorless) or does it look like pus? How is your temperature today. And what is your drain site looking and feeling like today.

Infreyred

the liquid Is pretty clear. The doc finally returned my call and said that since my catheter was just removed he was "glad" the liquid was getting out this way. Part of the infection? What a relief! It was actually squirting, then gushing .. now oozing on day 3. The ultra strong antibiotics seem to be working and temp down. My whole breast was a bright, deep red and that perimeter is getting smaller. So glad I won't need to be hospitalized! Thanks for your concern. 💜

mustlovepoodles

It sounds a lot like my seroma. I had a large hematoma after my LX. After re-excision a week later, the whole pocket filled up with fluid (seroma.) The night before my next appt with the BS, it broke open like Niagara Falls. Gushing out~! All down my side, into my shoes. I knew it wasn't blood, not the right color, but holy cow! It was a lot of fluid. The next day the BS removed another 150ml. She really didn't want to have to do that for fear of introducing bacteria, but it was such a big thing and such a mess that I ended up having it tapped 4 times in 3 weeks, large amounts each time. Finally it got massively infected and she put a drain in it for a couple weeks. Between the 6 weeks of antibiotics and the drain, we finally got the seroma under control. It finally dried up completely and went away.

Infreyred

one would think that the hospital would have the know how, equipment and follow through to tap something like this while avoiding an infection. This is really scary. I know what you mean about the amount of fluid. I had direct implants and thought the silicon bag had been somehow torn when I saw the amount and color of the fluid.

smarchez

HI there. I hope you are feeling better. mustlovepoodles - I think I may have a seroma too. Had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal (3) almost 2 weeks ago. In the last few days, I have had a large swelling on that side, under my arm. Haven't got a great deal of support here (we live in Spain) and very little information (other than that I've gleaned from sites such as these). I'm not entirely sure that the info I have put in under 'diagnosis' is correct as it's what I've managed to translate from the report that is going to the oncologist. Saw the GP this morning and have an appointment to see the breast surgeon tomorrow evening. I've only seen someone once since my op (not sure if this is normal in the UK) and have otherwise been left on my own with no help/support. Am seeing the oncologist on 11 July (I assume to talk about radiotherapy which I have been told I will have). The seroma is worrying me a bit. It's uncomfortable (it's hot here so that doesn't help!) and I am finding it difficult to find a bra that I can wear. I do need one as I am 36F/G. Am sitting here with halter neck bikini top on under my t-shirt as it's better than nothing.

MinusTwo

smarchez - you didn't mention drains. I had drains for two weeks. Hope you get some answers from your breast surgeon.

Infreyred

Fruit of the Loom makes a comfortable, inexpensive front closure bra. Order a size UP.

Infreyred

My seroma burst just AFTER my drains were removed. Fluid came gushing from the opening where the drain had been. It is still oozing after several days, though I am on strong antibiotics.

smarchez

Hi MinusTwo. I did have drains but only for two days. I was so glad to get rid of them as I found them so uncomfortable (it was 40+ degs at the time and I also had the elastic bandages to cope with - bit hot!). Had my seroma drained on Wednesday evening. Surgeon said it was likely to come back and it has :-(. Will have to go back tomorrow to have it drained again. Feel a bit weak getting depressed about having this seroma as I know there are plenty of people who are MUCH worse off than I am. I wish you all the best.

smarchez

Thanks infreyred. Will have a look and see if they deliver to Spain.

Infreyred

Seroma stopped but I have now developed an infection on the seroma side ... left breast bright red and trapped fluid around the implant. 10 days on strong antibiotics not effective so now in urgent care at Sloan. Prob. Will have to stay overnight on an IV antibiotic and who knows what else? Someone mentioned a needle aspiration to remove fluid which makes me extra nervous as the implant is in there! It's been 3 weeks since my bilateral mastectomy. Will this ever end?

RedRoses2

how are you doing Infreyred?

Did the IV meds work?

CindeeLu

Hi all -- I'm new to this site and appreciate all the posts I have read so far. I had a left mastectomy 24 days ago and unfortunately the Jackson-Pratt drain failed on day 7. I was seen that day and the BS pulled the drain. Since it was a Friday, I was without drainage until the following Monday. The BS ordered aspiration and for the last two weeks I have gone to the Breast Center every other day (except for the weekends and the long July 4 weekend) at the hospital to have the radiologist and her assistant do this. An interesting side note is that both the radiologist and the assistant have had double mastectomies and therefore were able to appreciate my concerns. Since the fluid has measured slightly over 20ml per day, the BS now wants to stop the aspirations and have a pigtail drain inserted in my chest where the seroma has developed. I refused to have that done today as I don't know anything about this type of drain and at this point I do not want to deal with another drain unless it's absolutely necessary for my health. Do any of you have experience with having a pigtail drain inserted to drain the fluid that accumulates after a mastectomy?

Infreyred

dear red roses

Thank u for asking. I am on day 3 at Sloan on IV antibiotics, and went through an aspiration procedure yesterday. I finally see slight progress. Please send healing energy that I will avoid a repeated surgery.

Infreyred

Dear Cindee

A pigtail drain is considered a safe and less invasive drain than the Jackson-Pratt. So as long as you trust your doctor I would go with it. You don't want to end up with an infection like me. You need to get that fluid OUT.

Did I read correctly that the surgeon pulled out the JP and left you with nothing??? Unheard of. I would've checked myself into urgent care on Friday night. Don't be polite about observing office hours. Your body comes first.

CindeeLu

Yes, the BS left me with nothing from Friday at noon until Monday morning when the first aspiration was done. I was none too happy on Sunday night! 85 cc were aspirated that morning. After Monday aspirations were every other day except weekends and the long 4th of July weekend. The pigtail drain they had on hand at the breast center was not the one the radiologist and assistant were used to using. It had a huge collection bag about 8"X 8" and a very short tube that wouldn't even extend to my waist to allow me to tuck it into my pant waistbands.The pigtail drain itself seems very long and the curly cue nature of the securing part of the drain seemed just plain medieval! It can tear tissue easily if not put in properly. These two people had never put one like this in before. I decided not to be their guinea pig and have refused it.

This past Monday they indicated that they thought it best to stop the aspirations. Perhaps they were trying to force me to let them install the drain as the surgeon wanted. I don't know the reason. But since I have last talked to the surgeon on June 30 and she never checked in with me as she had promised she would do over that first hellish weekend, I have lost confidence in her care. She uses her personal email address and cell phone for patient contact. At first I thought that this was great -- real personal service and it made me feel special. But now I realize that she avoids using her hospital provided contact email and phone so there is no record of her interactions with patients. Monday I see my internist and he is associated with a highly regarded hospital and I am going to transition to a new surgeon and hospital to continue my recovery and future treatment. I would caution others to avoid local and and regional hospitals when dealing with something as important as cancer. Larger, better known centers may not be as convenient, but there is a reason that they are rated so highly rated.

Infreyred

Dear Red Rose

Sad News

😫

A bacteria grew in the culture that they couldn't get rid of: pseudomonas aeruginosa. Doctor out of town. Another doctor fit me in for surgery this afternoon. Opened site, remove implant, and put in a drain. My chest looks like a hideous volcano. I am devastated.

They will send me home with drain, and then healing for 2-3 months. then I will come back and start all over!! My body has taken such a beating.

Worst part is the infection was preventable. It started at the drain site and bacteria entered through the shower water. My doctor told me it was not necessary to cover the site. Now it is "recent policy" at Sloan to cover the sight while showering. I was a fool to trust the doctor's bc I now see other doctors all over the Internet warning about bacteria in the water.

I'm thinking of DIEP surgery next time bc your own body will fight off infections. There are complications with this surgery too.