Clinical significance of retaining axillary sheath in breast cancer surgery / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of retaining axillary sheath in axillary lymph node dissection of breast cancer surgery. Methods Four hundred and two patients received modified radical mastectomy from January 2004 to January 2008 and followed up for 12 months were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups (group A and B) according to whether retaining axillary sheath in operation. Compared the morbidities of axillary effusion and edema of upper limbs between two groups. Results The morbidity of axillary effusion after operation in group A (5.3%, 13/243 ) was lower than that in group B (10.7%,17/159)(P＜0.05). Based on the data followed up for 1,6, 12 months after operation, the morbidity of edema of upper limbs in group A were also lower than those in group B (P ＜0.01). Conclusion Retaining axillary sheath when there is no evidence of lymph node metastasis in axillary sheath, will prominently lower the morbidities of axillary effusion and edema of upper limbs,improve the life quality of patients.