Characterizing aspects and impacts of lymphedema in women after surgical procedures for the treatment of breast cancer: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze in the literature the characterizing aspects of lymphedema in women after surgical procedures and the impacts caused on the quality of life of this population. Methods: Integrative review with analytical and descriptive method, in six phases: elaboration of the guiding question, search or sampling in the literature, data collection, critical analysis of studies, discussion of results and presentation of the integrative review. A bibliographic survey was carried out through the Virtual Health Library, focusing on LILACS, MEDLINE and BDENF-ENF, using the association of the Boolean operator AND with the descriptors: Elderly, Mastectomy, Postoperative Complications, Lymphedema in two crossings. The final sample consisted of 10 articles published from 2015 to 2020. Results: The studies highlighted the relevance of the topic and addressed aspects that characterize lymphedema, such as concept, risk factors, etiopathogenesis, impacts on quality of life, professional performance and Law that ensures breast reconstruction in Brazil. Final considerations: Lymphedema is a very recurrent complication in postoperative and radiological treatment. So far, research is scarce, constituting a major challenge for health care.