Chronic Expanding Hematoma Following Abdominoplasty

Chronic expanding hematoma mimicking seroma, following a totally extraperitoneal approach for inguinal hernia: a case report

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) mimicking seroma following inguinal hernia surgery has not been reported previously. A 78-year-old man underwent laparoscopic repair of a left direct hernia via a totally extraperitoneal approach. He was discharged 2 days after surgery without any complications. Two weeks later, he complained of left inguinal bulging without pain. We considered seroma and decided to observe the patient for 1 month. However, the cyst did not change in size. Additional cyst aspiration and drainage attempts were unsuccessful. Three months after the initial surgery, we performed a second surgery (resection of the cyst) because conservative therapies were ineffective. The resected cyst was pathologically diagnosed as a CEH. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence was observed. Complete excision of a CEH is mandatory because aspiration and drainage cannot prevent recurrence.

Plastic Surgery Complications: A Review for Emergency Clinicians

The number of aesthetic surgical procedures performed in the United States is increasing rapidly. Over 1.5 million surgical procedures and over three million nonsurgical procedures were performed in 2015 alone. Of these, the most common procedures included surgeries of the breast and abdominal wall, specifically implants, liposuction, and subcutaneous injections. Emergency clinicians may be tasked with the management of postoperative complications of cosmetic surgeries including postoperative infections, thromboembolic events, skin necrosis, hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, fat embolism syndrome, bowel cavity perforation, intra-abdominal injury, local seroma formation, and local anesthetic systemic toxicity. This review provides several guiding principles for management of acute complications. Understanding these complications and approach to their management is essential to optimizing patient care.