Prevalence of postoperative complications resulting from the modified radical mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy

Abstract

Objective: To determine the most prevalent complications in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection in the immediate postoperative period until the 30th day after surgery. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 18 women who underwent modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection. Assessments were made of the immediate postoperative period until the 30th day after the mastectomy. The evaluation criteria used were mainly the presence of subjective symptoms of edema and pain, range of motion (ROM) of the right and left shoulders and the presence of trans-operative and immediate post-operative complications. Results: The age of the study participants ranged from 38 to 81 years (60.7±12.6). With regard to complications post-mastectomy, it was observed that the most frequent findings were subjective symptoms of edema (50%), symptoms related to changes in the intercostal nerve (44.4%) and limitation in ROM of the shoulder (50%). Conclusions: It is necessary that the complications identified are known to health professionals. Then, it will seek to prevent or minimize possible physical and functional complications that may hinder the recovery of women after surgery for breast cancer.