Behavioral study of the axillary drainage in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feelings and the difficulties experienced by the patients during the period when they are using suction drain. Methods: This transversal, descriptive study evaluated women with breast cancer, submitted to surgical treatment and who used the suction drain for at least three days. The difficulties to perform specific and general daily tasks, as well as the negative feelings triggered by the drain were evaluated by means of a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. Results: 77 patients, with the mean age of 49 (±13 years). Among the sample, 53 (68.8%) of the studied patients stopped performing certain tasks because they were using the drain. Regarding limitations, the difficulty to get dressed (79.2%) and to sleep (87.0%) are the highlighted ones. Among the feelings reported there was a prevalence of “strangeness” (76.6%) and “ fear” (72.7%). Conclusion: Having these results in mind, when the surgeon considers using the drain after axillary manipulation in breast surgery, they must take into account on one hand the handling of seroma, and on the other hand, the daily difficulties and the negative feelings experienced by the patients during the use of drains.