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SJBird55 -> RE: Does anyone have information on ultrasound treatment for mastitis? (May 13, 2008 8:01:31 PM)
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Well, I believe the physicians are whacked. First of all the breastfeeding moms should have been educated to prevent. Second.. as I mentioned with a heifer - the breast needs to be emptied. Probably no bag balm on the breast as with a heifer because an infant probably shouldn't consume bag balm. Thirdly, in the early stages, just moist compresses and even "milking" oneself in the shower reduces the discomfort, which means ultrasound with no proven benefit is a high cost "solution." 4th... the infant needs to latch on the breast appropriately. AND... if the problem is a major problem, then antibiotics should be prescribed, but again, there should be care in prescribing prescription antibiotics.
A better professional for referral would probably be a lactating specialist.
If it's more than just a lactating problem.. here's one abstract:
Br J Surg. 1996 Oct;83(10):1413-4. Conservative management of infective mastitis and breast abscesses after ultrasonographic assessment. O'Hara RJ, Dexter SP, Fox JN. Department of Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
Current practice in this unit for a suspected breast abscess is preliminary ultrasonographic scan, aspiration of any pus, antibiotic therapy and repeat aspiration in the outpatient clinic if necessary. Inflammatory masses are treated with antibiotics alone. A retrospective review of this strategy has been made. Over a 2-year interval 53 patients were admitted to hospital with a suspected breast abscess. Twenty-two abscesses were aspirated, of which 19 resolved and three required subsequent incision and drainage. Eight patients underwent primary incision and drainage, one of whom required a second drainage procedure. In five patients the abscess discharged spontaneously before intervention. The remaining 18 patients were found on ultrasonography to have inflammation without evidence of focal pus which settled with antibiotic therapy in all but two patients. One of these was found to have an inflammatory cancer and the other developed an abscess, which was drained. Aspiration combined with ultrasonographic imaging is an effective alternative to incision and drainage.
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