Doxycycline Versus Standard Care to Prevent Seroma Formation

A seroma is a collection of fluid other than pus or blood which forms through the division
of numerous lymphatic channels, which normally drain the interstitial space under the skin.
These channels become disrupted during surgical procedure and lead to seroma formation. This
collection of fluid causes pressure in the local area, patient discomfort, and provides
unfortunately an excellent culture medium for bacteria. Seroma development has been
previously described in femoral vessel groin cannulation dissections after surgery.
Conventional therapy is limited to draining the fluid, sometimes more than once, until there
is full resolution of the seroma. If fluid collection recurs at the surgical site,
sclerosant therapy with agents such as doxycycline. Doxycycline has been found to be a cost
effective agent used as a sclerosant, which belongs to tetracycline class of antibiotics.
The investigators hypothesize that prophylactic use of doxycycline at the site of femoral
cannulation will prevent or minimize the area of seroma formation as compared to standard
care of patients. The aim is driven towards limiting patient discomfort and visits to the
clinic and to improve clinical care.