What happens if seroma is left untreated?

Small seromas often regress into the body on their own; those that remain can be aspirated using a needle and syringe. If a seroma persists, surgical removal may be considered. Large, untreated seromas pose an increased risk of infection, and they may develop a fibrous capsule, complicating drainage.

How do you treat a seroma?

Common treatments for a seroma include:

  1. Antibiotics to treat infection.
  2. Aspiration to remove accumulated fluid.
  3. Drain placement to enable drainage of accumulating fluid.
  4. Observation to monitor the seroma.
  5. Surgery to repair the area of the seroma.

How serious is a seroma?

In most cases, seromas are harmless and are allowed to heal naturally. Seromas are not related to cancer cells and pose no increased risk or concern. However, they can cause discomfort and lead to a longer hospital stay after surgery.

How do you get rid of a stomach seroma?

To help get rid of your seroma, a doctor or nurse may:

  1. Drain the fluid with a needle and syringe.
  2. Drain it more than once.
  3. Put pressure on the swollen area.
  4. Give you a shot to collapse and seal the empty space (sclerotherapy)

What does an abdominal seroma feel like?

In many cases, a seroma will have the appearance of a swollen lump, like a large cyst. It may also be tender or sore when touched. A clear discharge from the surgical incision is common when a seroma is present. You may have an infection if the discharge becomes bloody, changes color, or develops an odor.

What is an abdominal seroma?

Seroma is a serous fluid collection that accumulates in dead spaces, where tissue was attached to something before surgery. Abdominal seroma formation is a quite common complication after breast reconstruction with abdominal’s flaps or after an abdominoplasty procedure.

When Should a seroma be aspirated?

In some cases, if there is an excessive amount of fluid, the seroma is very painful or it is putting a strain on the stitch line from surgery, it may have to be drained and this is called a seroma aspiration.

Will a seroma heal on its own?

The seroma may go away on its own within a few weeks or months. Your body slowly absorbs the fluid. No medicine will make it go away faster. But if you have a large seroma or if it’s causing pain, your healthcare provider may drain it.

What kind of doctor treats seroma?

Plastic surgeons experienced in the treatment of soft tissue injuries know that seromas are common.

What are the signs of a seroma?

The presence of a seroma can be identified if the following signs and symptoms are present:

Does seroma lead to lymphedema?

Symptomatic seroma is associated with increased risk of developing lymphedema symptoms following breast cancer treatment. Patients who develop symptomatic seroma should be considered at higher risk for lymphedema symptoms and receive lymphedema risk reduction interventions.

Is seroma a lymph?

Seromas are a mass or tumefaction caused by localized accumulation of serum within tissues or organs that occur secondary to surgery or blunt trauma where significant tracts of lymphatic tissue have been removed, injured, or occluded.

Does lymphatic massage help with seroma?

Manual lymphatic drainage is the most recommended treatment by surgeons to prevent and drain seromas without a medical intervention. Most importantly, you can start the MLD sessions right after your surgery. All the fluid inside the seroma will be drained manually and evacuated by your lymphatic system.

How can seroma be prevented?

Effective strategies for seroma prevention included the use of closed-suction drains; keeping the drains until their output volume was minimal; maintaining a high pressure gradient in the drains; using sharp or ultrasonic dissection rather than cautery; dissecting the abdomen in a place superficial to the Scarpa fascia …

What is a seroma in medical terms?

(see-ROH-muh) A mass or lump caused by a buildup of clear fluid in a tissue, organ, or body cavity. It usually goes away on its own but may need to be drained with a needle.

Why is my abdominal incision hard?

This is normal and due to tissue inflammation around the repair. You may place an ice bag or a cold pack on the area to reduce swelling and pain.

When does a hematoma need to be drained?

Sometimes, a hematoma may require surgical drainage. Surgery may be more likely if the blood is putting pressure on the spinal cord, brain, or other organs. In other cases, doctors may want to drain a hematoma that is at risk of infection.