Could Recurrent Seromas from Tummy Tuck Be Due to Bacteria in Polyfilament Sutures?

After third seroma repair (my 8th abdominal surgery), fistula developed in incision so there is always drainage from the small hole in my incision. I was told my choices are to live with it or have an extensive 4-5 hour surgery to remove every polyfilament suture that probably has bacteria that is causing the seromas/abcesses to develop. Do I have other choices? It was also suggested that cancer could possibly form at the sutures especially if those areas are consistently irritated.

Tags:

seroma options reoccur second opinion

Comment on this

5 Doctor Answers | Asked by lisalrrb

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (0)

Recurrent seroma from sutures

First, I don't think you should worry about a cancer forming. Second, and more important, I think that you must have a chronic infection, not seroma. This is a big difference because most seromas, by definition, are not infected. If they were infected it would be called an abscess, or specified as an infected seroma. Most seromas can be easily and successfully treated as long as they are identified and tended to early. Chronic infection of sutures is certainly possible and I have seen... more

Permanent sutures may become infected

Polyfilament sutures are braided, like a cable. They are more likely to become infected than monofilament sutures, which are a single solid strand. Either type of suture may be dissolvable or permanent. Dissolvable stitches may become infected but will deteriorate and eventually disappear if they do. Permanent stitches (either mono- or polyfilament) will have to be removed if infected, or the infection will persist. Surgery may be needed to remove permanent sutures from a tummy tuck... more

Seromas are not related to braided sutures, but persistent drainage from bacteria-contaminated sutures is a reality.

Your tummy tuck was complicated by seroma (serous fluid build-up beneath your skin flaps) either because there was no drain used (should have), the drain(s) were removed prematurely (sometimes happens to the best of us), or because escessive activity after partial healing and flap adherence was disrupted and a seroma cavity resulted (not the patient's "fault" but still sometimes happens). Seromas happen in some patients of all plastic surgeons who do lots of tummy... more

Bacteria on Sutures used during Tummy Tuck Surgery?

It is not possible to give you precise advice without in-person examination and obtaining a full history. However, if you are experiencing repeated problems with abdominal wall sutures (for example those used to plicate abdominal wall muscles during tummy tuck surgery), then sometimes the only solution is to re-elevate the abdominal wall flap and remove all of the previously placed sutures. I hope this helps.

Drainage after tummy tuck

If this is the first time you have had such a fistula, it may be that a single suture is the cause, and more often than not your surgeon may be able to remove it in the office using some local anesthesia. If many of your previous "redo" operations were related to draining sutures, it is most likely that these problems will continue until all the foreign material is removed. It is possible, but very unlikely that a malignancy could develop at a site of chronic... more