A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OUTCOMES IN MANAGEMENT OF BREAST ABSCESS BY ULTRASOUND GUIDED NEEDLE ASPIRATION AGAINST INCISION AND DRAINAGE

Abstract

Background: Breast abscess is a common cause of morbidity in women. While they are less common in developed countries as a result of improved maternal hygiene, nutrition, standard of living and early administration of antibiotics, breast abscess remain a problem among women in developing countries.

Methods: Hospital based prospective randomized controlled trial conducted on 100 patients. 50 of them were randomized in the aspiration group and other 50 were treated by incision and drainage. All statistical analysis was done in Epi-info statistical software.

Results: In our study, patients in the needle aspiration group had lesser pain as compared to the patients of the incision and drainage group. Average pain score (on visual analogue scale) on day three of patients in the needle aspiration group was 4.22 as compared to 5.72 in the incision and drainage group. On day seven the pain score was 1.73 in the aspiration group and 3.89 in the incision and drainage group. By day fourteen almost all patients (94.00%) of needle aspiration group were pain free and the average pain score in the incision and drainage group was 2.0.Using the chi square test, a p value of 0.0005 was obtained suggesting a statistically significant difference.

Conclusion: Wherever the facility of ultrasound is available, serial percutaneous needle aspiration may be tried as a first line of therapy.

Keywords: Needle aspiration, Incision and drainage, Breast abscess.