Ultracision reduces acute blood loss but not seroma formation after mastectomy and axillary dissection: a pilot study.

Various surgical cutting coagulation devices are used during breast surgery. A pilot study was set up to determine if ultracision would reduce complications of intraoperative blood loss and seroma formation. Acute blood loss was significantly reduced in the harmonic scalpel group in comparison with the control group. However, there was little difference between the two groups in terms of hospital stay, volume or duration of postoperative drainage or subsequent aspiration of seroma.