It is the accumulation of blood that can be produced under the skin in the surgically intervened area of the mamma.
The mammary tissue is highly vascularised. During the mammary surgery (mastectomy, tumorectomy, etc) a careful clotting of all the vessels is done to further avoid their bleeding. Despite ensuring these measures, in the first postoperative hours, a bleeding from some vessels can produce a haematoma.
Usually its manifestations are pain in the suture, inflammation and changes in the colouration of the skin near the scar. Less frequently, it can get infected and cause fever.
Its diagnosis is done through clinical history and exploration of the affected area.
Treatment is based on local cures, observation and pain control with common analgesics. Generally, blood is reabsorbed spontaneously after some days. In cases where the haemotoma is larger, the pain cannot be controlled or when suspecting a possible active bleeding, it may need another surgical intervention to evacuate the haematoma and draining the blood clot.
- Aitken DR, Minton JP. Complications associated with mastectomy. Surg Clin North Am. 1983 Dec;63(6):1331-52.
- Vitug AF, Newman LA. Complications in breast surgery. Surg Clin North Am. 2007 Apr;87(2):431-51, x.
- García, A. S. (2001). Complicaciones de la cirugía de la mama. Cirugía Española, 69(3), 224-230.
