It is the accumulation of blood that can occur under the skin in the area of a recent breast surgery.
Breast tissue is highly vascularized. During breast surgery (mastectomy, lumpectomy, etc.) careful coagulation of all vessels is performed to prevent further bleeding. In spite of these measures, in the first hours after surgery, bleeding may occur from a vessel that may cause a hematoma.
It usually manifests itself with pain in the scar area, inflammation and color changes in the skin near the scar. Rarely, it may become infected, accompanied by fever.
Diagnosis is made by clinical history and examination of the affected area.
Treatment is based on local dressings, observation and pain control with standard analgesics. Generally, the blood is spontaneously reabsorbed within a few days. In cases where the hematoma is very extensive, when the pain is not controlled or active bleeding is suspected, it may require a new surgical intervention to evacuate the hematoma and coagulate the bleeding point.
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- García, A. S. (2001). Complicaciones de la cirugía de la mama. Cirugía Española, 69(3), 224-230.
