ObjectiveTo compare the differences in preventing subcutaneous effusion, skin flap necrosis, and patient comfort between simple negative pressure drainage and negative pressure drainage combined with chest compression bandaging after radical mastectomy for breast cancer. MethodsOne hundred and ninety-six patients underwent radical mastectomy for breast cancer from January 2010 to December 2012 in this hospital were collected.The simple negative pressure drainage (SNPD group, n=84) and negative pressure drainage combined with chest compression bandaging (NPD+CB group, n=112) after radical mastectomy for breast cancer were used to prevent postoperative subcutaneous effusion.The postoperative complications, postoperative 3 d drainage volume, and patient comfort were compared in two groups. ResultsOne hundred and ninety-six patients with breast cancer were females.The differences of general clinical data were not statistically significant in two groups (P > 0.05).The differences of chest wall mean extubation time, axillary mean extubation time, postoperative 3 d mean drainage volume, and incidences of subcutaneous effusion and skin flap necrosis were not statistically significant in two groups (P > 0.05).The rate of comfort satisfactory in the SNPD group was significantly higher than that in the NPD+CB group [76.2%(16/84) versus 22.3%(25/112), P < 0.001].The chemotherapy was not affected after operation in two groups. ConclusionsComparing with negative pressure drainage combined with chest compression bandaging, simple negative pressure drainage do not increase postoperative subcutaneous effusion and skin flap necrosis, but it greatly improves the patients satisfactory rate.