Early discharge with drains after breast cancer surgery in the extraordinary times, the COVID-19 pandemic: A single center experience.

This retrospective study included all breast cancer patients underwent mastectomy and/or axillary dissection, in the Breast Surgery Clinic of Kocaeli University Teaching Hospital, a regional pandemic hospital, between December 2020 and January 2021.

Patients were mostly discharged the day after surgery with drains due to congestion, while some of the patients had traditional long stay, when beds were available. The patients were evaluated postoperatively (the first 30 days) in terms of wound complications, Clavien-Dindo Classification grade, satisfaction, presence of pain and nausea, treatment costs during the follow-up period of the study. Outcomes were compared between early discharged patients and patients who had traditional long stay.