Acute puerperal mastitis in the augmented breast.

Abstract

Acute puerperal mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast with an onset 2 to 3 weeks postpartum and often complicated by abscess formation in the affected breast if treatment is delayed. This case demonstrated a periprosthetic seroma in a patient who developed acute puerperal mastitis in the augmented breast that has not been described previously. Treatment of acute puerperal mastitis includes antistaphylococcal antibiotic coverage within the first 48 hours, with ultrasound examination in the presence of persistent induration, swelling, or tenderness to diagnose breast abscess. Plastic surgeons performing breast augmentation need to be aware of this entity.