Reoccurring Seroma?

I am 49 years old and had a tummy tuck, lipo and hernia repair done on March 1, 2012. I almost immediately developed a seroma and after many months of aspirations, I underwent a second surgery on August 24, 2012. I am now 2.5 weeks post op but still draining over 200cc's per day. My Dr pumped Batadine through the tube today and put me back on antibiotics. My abd under incision is swelling again and is tender. I have headaches and feel very tired. What do you think is happening?

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age 45-54 seroma 3 weeks post-op aspiration hernia repair recurrence

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by vheld

Doctor Answers (4)
Community Comments (1)

Recurrent seroma following hernia repair, lipo, and tummy tuck.

There are multiple issues that could be occurring. Your plastic surgeon and general surgeon are your best resources. Having significant drainage after a seroma cavity excision is normal early on, but when approaching 3 weeks, this is unusual. Multiple techniques exist to decrease seroma formation in the first place including leaving adequate fascia on the abdominal wall to preserve lymphatics, using progressive tension sutures to decrease dead-space, and limiting dissection and undermining.... more

David Bogue, MD

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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Seroma post tummy

This is not the usual case and so I think you need to see both your plastic surgeon and your general surgeon.I would cuilture the fluid and have it analyzed to see if it is lymph fluid.Agasin this is not the normal course.

Persistent Seroma after Tummy Tuck

Seromas are common following tummy tuck but they usually resolve in a couple of weeks. Persistent seromas may be caused by medical illnesses which must be ruled out such as congestive cardiac failure, renal failure and low blood protein. If your lymph nodes were damaged during the hernia repair, you may even have a lymphocele where it is lymph fluid that is gathering and not (only) serum. Assuming this is not the case with you, conservative measures would include cortisone... more

Reoccurring Seroma

Sorry to hear about the difficulties you continue to have. It would be helpful to know what the nature of the second surgery was. I would presume the Betadine was added to try to sclerose the seroma cavity. When it works it causes an inflammatory reaction to the lining of the cavity that has formed and encourages the walls to stick to one another and thus stop secreting serum. There are also other agents that can be used, including tetracycline, talc,... more

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Comments (1)

vheld 11 Sep 2012

The second surgery was to remove the seroma. My Dr said it was huge but felt he was successful at removing it all. I am just nervous that I could be developing another seroma. My drain was at 170cc's yesterday at 17 days post op and my abdomin below the incision is swollen.

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