Breast Abscess Drainage

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A breast abscess (AB-ses) is a pocket of pus inside your breast. You can get a breast abscess when germs enter your breast through your nipple. The germs usually get into the milk glands and ducts (tubes).
  
  
• You may get a breast abscess from breast feeding while you have cracked nipples. You may get one if you stop breast feeding your baby too quickly or after having mastitis (mas-TI-tis). Mastitis is a breast infection (in-FEK-shun). You may also get an abscess from breast problems that are not related to breast feeding. To get rid of the pus, your breast abscess may need to be opened and drained. Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine may be needed to fight the infection. With treatment, you should be better in about three weeks.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

There are few risks in having your breast abscess drained. You may bleed more than usual or get an infection. Your caregiver can treat these problems. If you do not have the abscess drained, you may get a bad breast infection. Even after you have had your abscess drained, the abscess could come back again. If you are breast feeding, the breast that had the abscess could become engorged (too full and painful). This could happen if you do not pump it regularly enough after the drainage procedure.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before Your Procedure:

• Informed consent: A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• Call button: You may use the call button when you need your caregiver. Pain, trouble breathing, or wanting to get out of bed are good reasons to call. The call button should always be close enough for you to reach it.
  
  
• Heart monitor: This is also called an ECG or EKG. Sticky pads placed on your skin record your heart's electrical activity.
  
  
• IV: An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Never turn the pulse oximeter or alarm off. An alarm will sound if your oxygen level is low or cannot be read.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.
  
  
• Anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zah): This is medicine to make you comfortable during the procedure. You may be awake or completely asleep. You and your caregiver will decide which type of anesthesia is best for you. Ask your caregiver for information about anesthesia. The different types of anesthesia are:
  
  
  • Local anesthesia: Medicine is used to numb the area of your body where the surgery or procedure will be done. It is usually injected into the skin. It also may be given as a gel or jelly applied to your gums for dental procedures or as a patch. For such areas as the genitals, medicine may be given as a cream on the skin or mucus membranes.
    
    
  • General anesthesia: Caregivers use this medicine to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. They give you anesthesia through your IV or as a gas. You may breathe in the gas through a mask or through a breathing tube placed down your throat. The tube may cause you to have a sore throat when you wake up.

During Your Procedure:

• You will be taken to the room where your procedure will be done. Caregivers will help you get comfortable on the bed. A belt may be put over your legs for safety. Ask for more blankets if you are cold. Your caregiver will clean your breast and the area around it with soap and water. This soap may make your skin yellow, but it will be cleaned off later. Sheets will be put over you to keep the breast area clean.
  
  
• A small incision (cut) will be made in your breast abscess. Your caregiver may break up the pocket of pus and wash it out with salt water. The caregiver may put gauze in the incision to collect the pus. Your caregiver may leave a small drain in your incision to let the pus out. A sample of tissue and pus may be sent to a lab for tests. Your incision may not be stitched (sewn) closed. This way the incision will heal from the inside to the outside. A bandage will be put over your incision to keep the area clean and dry.

After Your Procedure:

You may be taken to the recovery room. When you are ready, you may be able to go home or may be taken back to your room.

• Activity: Your caregiver will tell you when it is OK to get out of bed. Call your caregiver the first time you want to get up. If you ever feel weak or dizzy, sit or lie down right away. Then call your caregiver.
  
  
• Drains: If you have a drain, it will be taken out when the incision stops draining. Instead of a drain, gauze packing may be placed in your incision. The fluid collects in the packing and will be removed later. A bandage will be put on the incision.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
    
    
  • Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and to help prevent vomiting.
    
    
  • Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
    
    
    • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
      
      
    • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.