Indications:
The most common indication for a mastectomy is a cancerous tumour of the breast, or the suspicion thereof.
Procedure:
An incision is made in the affected breast/s. The type of incision used is dependent on the type of mastectomy you are undergoing (i.e. total mastectomy, simple mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy). In some cases the nipple and areola (tissue around the nipples) are also removed. In cases of invasive breast cancer, underlying tissue may also be cut free and removed if there is involvement of these tissues, and in some cases axillary lymph nodes are also excised to assess for cancer cells that have spread. This can be essential in the staging and prognosis of the cancer. Once the breast tissue has been removed it is sent to the laboratory for further investigation. At the end of the operation one or more tubes will be placed in the operated area to drain fluid which may accumulate under the wound. The skin is then closed. This procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Immediate reconstruction is possible in some cases and should be discussed with your surgeon.
- 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 also occur but 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 removed by your surgeon.
- You may feel pins and needles where the breast 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 be present.
- Swelling of the arm (called lymphedema) on the same side as the breast that is removed may occur. This swelling is not common, but can be an ongoing problem.
- Damage to the nerves that go to the muscles of the arm, back and chest wall may also occur.
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:
- 1-3 days (dependent on pain management, general state of patient and first bowel movement).
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).