Aim: This study evaluates the effect of preoperative intravenous methylprednisolone in reducing postoperative drain output and seroma incidence.

Study design: A prospective study

Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in the Department of Surgery at SGRDIMSR tertiary care teaching hospital, Amritsar from July 2024 to December 2025.

Methodology: A prospective study was conducted with 60 female patients scheduled for elective MRM. Participants were equally allocated into Group A (intervention), receiving 120 mg of IV methylprednisolone one hour before incision, and Group B (control), receiving standard care. Primary outcomes included daily drain volume, duration of drainage, and the incidence of seroma as per CTCAE v3.0 criteria.

Results: Group A demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in drain output during the early postoperative phase. Specifically, on Day 1, Group A recorded lower volumes (83.0 ± 6.51 ml) compared to Group B (94.67 ± 24.74 mL; p=0.015). This significant trend continued through Day 3 (p=0.021) and Day 4 (p=0.015). Consequently, 93.33% of patients in the steroid group achieved drain removal by Day 5, whereas Group B showed a higher rate of delayed removal (13.33% on Day 6). The incidence of seroma was lower in Group A (10%) compared to Group B (13.33%), though this did not reach statistical significance.