Ethyl Alcohol as Sclerosing Agent in Treatment of Post Mastectomy Seroma
Keywords:
Post-mastectomy seroma; ethanol sclerotherapy; ethyl alcohol; breast surgery complications; percutaneous drainage; sclerosant therapy; refractory seroma; postoperative collection.Abstract
Post-mastectomy seroma is a frequent complication that can delay adjuvant therapy, increase infection risk, and impair quality of life. When repeated aspirations and compression fail, chemical sclerotherapy is an accepted minimally invasive option. Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) promotes fibrosis of the seroma cavity by inducing endothelial damage and protein denaturation, thereby obliterating dead space. Contemporary series suggest ethanol sclerotherapy achieves high rates of resolution with low complication profiles, although single-session success may be limited and protocol heterogeneity persists. This paper summarizes the rationale, technique, efficacy, and safety of ethanol sclerotherapy for post-mastectomy seroma and contextualizes it among alternative sclerosants.