8 years after surgery, seroma was found. Any suggestions ?

Question

8 years ago hernia repair surgery to correct a previous surgery where the mesh had fused into the colon. Since that time my abdomen has been tender and bloats often to which my previous surgeon was unconcerned. My family doctor ordered an ultrasound which showed a moderate amount of fluid accumulation and referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon referred me to have an aspiration done under ultrasound guidance. Is a seroma lasting this many years normal or could there be an underlying issue as well?

Farid Brad Mozaffari, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Fluid collections after big surgeries are normal and main reason why many times drains are used.  If the fluid is not drained, it'll either go away by itself (absorbed), or it'll stick around and forms a lining around it (psuedocapsule).  If you have had your seroma for 8 years, then that is considered a chronic seroma and draining it under ultrasound guidance is the first step.  However, more than likely this fluid will come back and you need additional procedures to keep it from coming back.  The most common procedure to keep a chronic seroma from reoccurring is to inject a chemical into the seroma pocket (Sclerodesis) to help the walls of the seroma stick together and there is no room for fluid to build up again.

John A. Millard, MD, FACS · Answer

Having a seroma that far out of surgery is not unheard of and is more common if there is a foreign body such as a mesh there.  It is important that that fluid be sent off for any abnormalities such as infection and/or abnormal cells (At least in my opinion).

8 years after surgery, seroma was found. Any suggestions ?

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8 years after surgery, seroma was found. Any suggestions ?

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