Drainage in breast reduction surgery: a prospective randomised intra-patient trail

One hundred and fifty bilateral breast reductions were prospectively randomised intra-operatively to receive a unilateral wound drain. Seven patients required post-operative evacuation of haematoma, three on the drained and four on the undrained sides. There was no statistical difference in haematoma formation between drained and undrained sides (p=1), or the incidence of wound healing or other complications. We believe that routine wound drainage in breast reduction surgery is an unnecessary intervention.