Early discharge after modified radical mastectomy.

Thirty-nine patients underwent modified radical mastectomy and were discharged with their suction drains and sutures in place after a mean postoperative stay of 4.7 days. Drains and sutures were removed at the first office visit. There were no infections, and late seromas developed in only 21 percent of the patients. Another group of patients were hospitalized until drainage effluent from their tubes was less than 30 ml/day, at which time the drains were removed and the patients discharged. This group had a mean postoperative stay of 9.5 days, and an incidence of late seroma of 43 percent. These data suggest it is both safe and effective to discharge patients 3 to 5 days after mastectomy at considerable potential cost savings due to the reduced hospital stay.