Drenagem linfática em mulheres que foram submetidas á mastectomia: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

In Brazil breast cancer is greatly feared by women over 35 years of age, in 2012 approximately 52.680 cases were diagnosed, with an incidence of 52 cases for 100.000 women. Among the treatments are made of surgical techniques, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and physiotherapyLymphedema is one of main postoperative complications in women with mastectomies, besides pain, difficulty moving the arm and hand, sensibility alteration among others. Manual lymphatic drainage is the drainage of interstitial fluid that accumulates in the affected limb, improving peripheral lymphatic circulation and decreased fibrosis and adhesions preventing protein concentration. Therefore, this study aims to determine the role of physiotherapy in the prevention of post-mastectomy lymphedema. Through a bibliographic review the study confirms that the technique of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and effective in the treatment of lymphedema by improving skin texture, the healing process, reduce pain, lymphedema, return of sensitivity decreasing vulnerability to respiratory, circulatory complications and scarring.