ABSTRACT
Aim: Lymphorrhea and seroma formation are disabling and serious complications of axillary lymphadenectomy. The role of octreotide in control of post axillary dissection lymphorrhea will be assessed in this study
Methods: Fifty female patients with cancer breast of different stages were subjected for modified radical mastectomy and divided into two groups; the first group was given octreotide [Sandostatin, Novartis Pharma AG, Basie, Switzerland] 0.1 mg subcutaneous 18 hours for 7 days, the other group was the control group. Both groups were evaluated for amount and duration of lymphorrhea as well as infection and hematoma formation
Results: A significant difference in the amount and duration of lymphorrhea between the two groups was observed [P = 0.0003]. In the first 8 days, the mean amount of lymphorrhea was 145.0 +/- 45.8 cc per day and mean duration of drainage was 27.0 +/- 7.59 days in control group. In the treatment group, the mean amount of lymphorrhea was 104.0 +/- 29 cc per day and the mean duration of drainage was 12.7 +/- 6.74 days
Conclusion: Octreotide could be used successfully for control of post-axillary lymphadenectomy lymphorrhea and this may lower the incidence of lymphedema and lymphosarcoma