Clinical Efficacy of Modified and Conventional Aspiration for Breast Abscess: A Comparative Analysis.

Introduction: Breast abscess is common among lactating women with the main contributory factors being galactostasis and bacterial invasion. Traditional incision and drainage surgery for breast abscesses has been progressively replaced by minimally invasive treatment. Our department has contributed to improvements on the traditional approach. This study aimed to determine whether the clinical efficacy of modified aspiration is superior to that of conventional ultrasound-guided aspiration for breast abscess.

Methods: Eighty-six hospitalized patients with breast abscesses treated by aspiration were randomly divided into an experimental (n = 45) and a control group (n = 41). The experimental group was treated with ultrasound-guided modified aspiration and the control group with conventional ultrasound-guided aspiration. Clinical outcomes were duration of redness and swelling, recovery time, degree of pain during treatment, adherence to breastfeeding, mammary fistula, postoperative scarring, recurrence rate 3 mo after surgery, conversion to open operation, mammary contour change, medical expenses, and other indicators.

Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding degree of pain, adherence to breastfeeding, mammary fistula, postoperative scarring, recurrence rate 3 months after surgery, conversion to open surgery, or incidence of postsurgery mammary contour change (all P > 0.05). Duration of redness and swelling, recovery time, and medical expenses were all improved in the experimental group compared with controls (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The novel modified aspiration technique developed in our hospital is a breast abscess treatment with minimal invasion, short treatment course, good efficacy, no influence on mammary contour, and lower medical expenses. It is worthy of further application and promotion in clinical settings.