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.

Getting Ready

Before The Procedure:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop taking aspirin or any other blood thinning medicines before your procedure.
  
  
• You may need blood tests before your procedure. Talk to your caregiver about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test.
  
  
• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.

The Day Of The Procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver before taking any medicine on the day of the procedure. These medicines include insulin, diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills, or heart pills. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles with you to the hospital.
  
  
• Do not wear contact lenses the day of the procedure. You may wear your glasses.
  
  
• If you are staying in the hospital after the procedure, bring your personal belongings with you. These include your bathrobe, toothbrush, denture cup (if needed), hairbrush, and slippers. Do not wear jewelry or bring money to the hospital.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist (an-es-thee-zee-OL-oh-jist) may talk to you before your procedure. This is the caregiver who gives you medicine to make you sleepy during the procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member may be asked to sign a legal piece of paper (consent form). It gives your caregiver permission to drain your breast abscess. Be sure all your questions have been answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• When you go home after the procedure, someone should drive you. Do not drive yourself home.

Treatment

What Will Happen:

• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. You may be given medicine to help you relax or make you drowsy. You may get medicine called local anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zah) that will numb the area of the abscess. Instead, you may get general anesthesia to keep you completely asleep. You and your caregiver will decide which type is best for you.
  
  
• Your breast and area around it will be washed with a special soap. A small incision (cut) will be made in your abscess to let the pus out. The caregiver may put gauze in the incision to collect the pus. Your caregiver may put a small drain in your incision to let the pus out. Your incision may not be sewn closed. This way the incision can heal from the inside to the outside.

After Your Procedure:

You will be taken to a recovery room. You will be there until you wake up. Your breast may be numb (without feeling) at first. You may be able to go home, or you may be taken to your room. A bandage will cover your incision. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK.

Waiting Room:

This is a room where your family can wait until you are ready for visitors after your procedure. Your doctor or nurse will find them in the waiting room to tell them how the procedure went. If your family leaves the hospital, ask them to leave a phone number where they can be reached. When it is time for you to go home after the procedure, someone should drive you home. Do not drive home by yourself.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot be on time for your abscess drainage procedure.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• Your breast abscess problems get worse.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about draining your breast abscess.

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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.