Abstract No: 1980 Category: Local-Regional Therapy Abstract: Saline Instillation Improves Cosmetic Results in Breast Conserving Surgery. Ivar Guldvog, Department for endocrine and breast surgery. Telemark Central Hospital, Norway Purpose: To investigate what was happening to the fluid in the cavity when saline was installed and to evaluate the cosmetic results. In a pilot study the content of the cavity was analysed after 2, 5 and 21 days and it was shown that protein almost immediately was leaking to the cavity and presumably by osmosis prohibiting any absorption of the volume. The cavity content of albumin and total protein was almost identical to the blood serum. Method: Fifty consecutive patients with breast conserving surgery were investigated. The weight of the resection specimen has been in the range 60-320 g and up to 400 ml saline has been installed into the cavity after suturing the wound with waterproof subdermal continuous suture. These patients have then been compared with the latest fifty consecutive cases before the new method was introduced. The comparison in cosmetic results on pictures was judged blindly and rated from 1-5 by a neutral plastic surgeon not taking part in the surgery. Bleeding and infection has also been registered. Results: There have been no reoperations due to bleeding in either group and all 100 operations compared have also been without any clinical infection demanding surgery or antibiotics. In the saline group 132 g were removed versus only 84 g in the pre-saline group. The fifty patients with saline installations were significantly superior concerning preserving natural shape of the breast. Conclusion: These results open up for new perspectives in breast conserving surgery. The need for plastic surgery in order to obtain satisfactory cosmetic results will be dramatically reduced. At the same time resections will be more radical and relapses reduced. Postoperative follow up will in several cases be much more optimal because no artificial prosthesis hamper the use of mammography. The results so far are very encouraging. We still have to evaluate the results after radiation therapy but former experience seems to indicate that the less bloody content of the cavity the more beneficial radiation results. Aftenposten, Norwegian news 5/14/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.