Indications:
The most common indication for this procedure is breast cancer (or the suspicion thereof).
Procedure:
Lumpectomy is the removal of a breast tumour (or “lump”) and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it. The operation may involve removal of the lymph nodes (glands) in the axilla (armpit). No muscles are removed. Alternative names: breast conserving surgery, partial mastectomy, wide local excision, quadrantectomy, or wedge resection. Most people receive about 6 weeks of radiation therapy shortly after lumpectomy in order to eliminate any cancer cells that may be present in the remaining breast tissue.
- Complications are very seldom and rarely serious. Bruising, scabbing, blistering, or skin loss along the edges of the skin cut may occur. Infection of the surgical wound may occur, but this is rare.
- Occasionally some old blood or fluid (seroma) collects under the wound. In some cases, this will resolve on its own, however if it doesn’t this can easily be drained.
- You may feel pins and needles where the breast lump used to be and underneath the arm. There may also be a numb patch in the skin of the armpit and under the inside of the upper arm. This patch slowly lessens in size but may always remain.
- Swelling of the arm (called lymphedema) may occur on the same side as where the glands were removed. This swelling is not common but can be an on-going problem.
- Injury to the nerves that go to the muscles of the arm, back and chest wall may occur but is usually minor.
- Your breasts may not match precisely in size and shape after surgery. This is because removing breast tissue during surgery usually makes the affected breast appear smaller. (After lumpectomy, all tissue removed from the breast is examined carefully to see if cancer cells are present in the margins – the normal tissue surrounding the tumour. If cancer cells are found in the margins extending out to the edge of the breast tissue removed, you will need additional surgery (called re-excision) to remove the remaining cancer.)
After your consultation:
- Obtain authorization from your medical aid and book your bed for your hospital admission.
- Carefully read through pre-operative information provided.
Day before surgery:
- Do not eat/drink after 22h00, the night before your surgery, unless otherwise specified by your surgeon or anaesthetist (you should be fasting for at least 6 hours before the procedure for solids but you are allowed to take clear liquids up to two hours before your procedure).
Day of surgery:
- Arrive for admission at indicated time on ‘Code & Consent’ sheet.
- Change into theatre attire, remove all valuable belongings.
Approximately 1-2 hours.
Duration of hospital stay:
- Duration of hospital stay: 1-2 days (dependent on pain management and general state of patient).
Activities:
- Refrain from strenuous activities (incl. exercise) for at least 4 weeks post-operatively.
Back to work:
- Sick leave required post-operatively is approximately 7-14 days.
Some pain and discomfort post operatively may be expected following any operation, but the following measures are used to lessen the pain experienced:
- Warming devises in theatre as well as warm intravenous fluids.
- Intra-operative pain medication through the drip.
- Post-operative medication through the drip, please inform the nurses if you are in pain so that medication will be administered to you.
- As close to one week after discharge as possible. Please contact the rooms to schedule an appointment.
More procedures performed by Dr Basson
A SKIN INCISION IS MADE AND THE CONTENTS OF THE ABSCESS IS DRAINED.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE ONE (OR BOTH) ADRENAL GLANDS.
THE FISTULA TRACT IS IDENTIFIED AND IS OPENED ALONG ITS LENGTH, AND THE EXPOSED INSIDE OF THE TRACT IS THEN CLEANED OUT.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE AN APPENDIX THAT IS INFLAMED/SWOLLEN/HAS RUPTURED/HAS FORMED AN ABSCESS.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE LUMPS/TUMOURS OF THE BREAST.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE PART OF/THE ENTIRE COLON.
AN ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE LARGE INTESTINE (COLON & RECTUM).
AN INCISION IN THE SKIN NEXT TO THE ANUS TO DRAIN PUS.
AN OPERATION TO REPAIR AN AREA OF WEAKNESS IN THE MUSCLES WHICH FORM THE LOWER FRONT OF THE STOMACH (IN THE GROIN REGION).
AN OPERATION THAT REMOVES EITHER PART OF THE STOMACH (PARTIAL) OR THE ENTIRE STOMACH (TOTAL).
AN ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE STOMACH.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE COMPLICATED HAEMORRHOIDS (PILES).
AN OPERATION TO REPAIR AN AREA OF WEAKNESS IN AN AREA WHERE PREVIOUS MUSCLE CLOSURE HAS BEEN PERFORMED (AFTER AN ABDOMINAL OPERATION).
AN OPERATION TO REPAIR AN AREA OF WEAKNESS IN THE MUSCLES WHICH FORM THE LOWER FRONT OF THE STOMACH (IN THE GROIN REGION).
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE BREAST
WITH INTERSTIM THERAPY, A SACRAL NEUROMODULATION DEVICE IS IMPLANTED DURING A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE.
AN OPERATION PERFORMED TO RELIEVE GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX; MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH A HIATUS HERNIA.
OESOPHAGEAL MANOMETRY IS A TEST THAT MEASURES THE FUNCTION AND MOVEMENT OF THE OESOPHAGUS AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VALVE BETWEEN THE OESOPHAGUS AND THE STOMACH.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE PARATHYROID GLAND/S OR PARATHYROID TUMOURS.
A PEG IS A WAY OF INTRODUCING FOOD, FLUIDS AND MEDICINES DIRECTLY INTO THE STOMACH BY PASSING A THIN TUBE THROUGH THE SKIN AND INTO THE STOMACH.
AN ELLIPTICAL INCISION IS MADE REMOVING THE AFFECTED SKIN AND INVOLVED TISSUE OVER THE BUTTOCK CLEFT.
AN OPERATION PERFORMED TO REPAIR A RECTUM THAT PROLAPSES THROUGH THE ANUS.
AN OPERATION PERFORMED TO STRENGTHEN THE WALL OF THE VAGINA WHICH STOPS THE RECTUM FROM PROTRUDING INTO THE VAGINA.
SURGERY TO REMOVE A PART OF YOUR SMALL BOWEL.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE THE SPLEEN.
A STOMA IS AN OPENING ANYWHERE ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BOWEL TO THE EXTERIOR SKIN SURFACE TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL ANUS.
AN OPERATION TO REMOVE PART OF/THE ENTIRE THYROID GLAND.
AN OPERATION TO REPAIR AN AREA OF WEAKNESS/SWELLING OF THE NAVEL (BELLY BUTTON).