Sexuality Among Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Survey of Three Surgical Procedures.

BACKGROUND: The quality of life of Mexican patients with breast cancer has been studied, but female sexual function has only been explored superficially. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire has been validated as a tool to measure sexual function among women with cancer. However, no study in Mexico has been published. PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare female sexuality of breast cancer survivors treated with three surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey applied in patients without active disease and free of any oncologic treatment who underwent conservative mastectomy, and mastectomy with and without reconstruction. Patients included in this study had no evidence of active disease after at least 2 years of postoperative follow-up and agreed to complete the FSFI questionnaire during a surveillance visit. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included: 37.8% had undergone conservative mastectomy, 29.7% radical mastectomy, and 32.4% radical mastectomy plus reconstruction. Patients in the radical mastectomy group were older than those in the other groups (p = 0.002). Female sexual dysfunction was observed in 34% of patients, but in patients who underwent radical mastectomy, it was 63% by contrast with 14 and 29% in women treated with conservative mastectomy and radical mastectomy with reconstruction (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a lower prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in patients treated with conservative mastectomy or reconstruction after radical mastectomy. Alternatively, radical mastectomy was offered to older patients, a condition that could contribute together with a loss of female perception to a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Quality of life among women treated for breast cancer: a survey of three procedures in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the quality of life among patients treated with one of three different types of surgery for breast cancer. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire survey completed by Mexican patients without active disease 1 year after breast cancer surgery. RESULTS: The 139 patients enrolled in the study included 44 (31.6 %) who had undergone mastectomy with reconstruction, 41 (29.5 %) who had undergone a quadrantectomy, and 54 (38.9 %) who had undergone radical mastectomy without reconstruction. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, core version 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC Breast Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-BR23) questionnaires were used. These instruments had a reliability greater than 0.82. Global health status (94.30 ± 12.04; p = 0.028) and role functioning (85.16 ± 17.23; p = 0.138) were highest in the quadrantectomy group. The pain score was highest in the group that had received mastectomy with reconstruction (26.13 ± 30.15; p = 0.042). The breast symptom score (22.56 ± 22.30; p = 0.009) and body image perception (85.56 ± 19.72; p = 0.025) were highest in the group that had conservative treatment. The overall health of the patients who had undergone mastectomy without reconstruction was lower (72.61 ± 20.89; p = 0.014) among the women older than 50 years than among the younger women. CONCLUSIONS: The quadrantectomy procedure had better acceptance, but the overall health status did not differ between the groups. The overall health status was lower among the women older than 50 years who had received a mastectomy without reconstruction.

Effect of a preoperative single-dose steroid on pulmonary function and postoperative symptoms after modified radical mastectomy: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that a preoperative single-dose steroid improves lung function and decreases the incidence of postoperative symptoms; however, this has not been sufficiently proved in modified radical mastectomy for cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative single-dose steroid administration for postoperative lung function and postoperative symptoms in women undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. METHODS: In this controlled clinical trial, conducted between June 2014 and October 2018, we examined 81 patients. Patients received a preoperative single dose of 8 mg dexamethasone (n=41; treatment group) or placebo (sterile injectable water; n=40; control group). We obtained data on postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain intensity and performed spirometry 1 h before and 1, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The use of additional analgesic or antiemetic drugs was recorded. We followed up patients 30 days after discharge and recorded any surgical or medical complications. RESULTS: The age distribution and anthropometric variables of the two groups were similar. Almost 50% of the patients in each group also underwent breast reconstruction. In the treatment group, pain intensity was always lower, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lower at 6, 12, and 24 h, and additional analgesics or antiemetics were required less frequently (P<0.05 for all). Both treatment and control groups demonstrated a restrictive ventilatory pattern immediately after surgery, which in the treatment group was reversed after 24 h. However, the reconstructed patients had a more intense and prolonged restrictive pattern (P<0.05). Surgical morbidity included one seroma observed in the control group. No infections occurred at the surgical site or at any other level, and no patient developed any metabolic disorder. No mortality was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes that a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone markedly decreased the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain, improved respiratory parameters, and decreased the need for additional postoperative analgesic or antiemetic drugs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT02305173).

[Totally implantable central venous access devices in patients with cancer. Experience at a private oncology center]. / Dispositivos de acceso venoso central totalmente implantables en pacientes con cáncer. Experienciaen un Centro Oncológico Privado.

BACKGROUND: Use of totally implantable central venous access ports in cancer patients is a common practice for chemotherapy not excluding early and late morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To report the experience using these devices in a private cancer center. METHODS: A consecutive series of 156 cases of patients using these devices placed by the same surgical team to enhance chemotherapy. They were evaluated over a period of 44 months. Prevalence of early and late complications and days-risk for patient infection was determined. RESULTS: In 140 cases (89.8%) patients underwent placement of totally implantable devices by surgical cut down through the external jugular vein. One case was done (0.6%) through the internal jugular, and another one (0.6%) through the cephalic vein (0.6%). In the remaining 13 cases (8.4%) devices were placed by percutaneous puncture of the subclavian vein. In one case it was impossible to place it by any of the two access ways (0.6%). The prevalence of early complications was 3.22% and of late complications 1.93%. The average days-risk for the development of infection was 473.8/patient. One case had fracture of the catheter during follow up. There was no mortality. DISCUSSION: Overall complication rate was 5.15%, similar to that reported by reference centers, without infection during follow-up. Access through the external jugular vein facilitates correct positioning of the catheter and has fewer complications. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a trained surgical team and careful monitoring reduces morbidity and prevents infections. Access through the external jugular is recommended for its accessibility and low morbidity.

Resultados de la aplicación de la lista de verificación quirúrgica en 60 pacientes / Results of applying the surgical checklist in 60 patients

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados de la aplicación de la lista de verificación quirúrgica en todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía por nuestro equipo de trabajo. Sede: Institución médica privada. Diseño: Estudio clínico prospectivo, transversal, observacional, descriptivo. Análisis estadístico: Porcentajes como medida de resumen para variables cualitativas. Material y métodos: Se aplicó la lista de verificación quirúrgica en 60 pacientes sometidos a cirugía electiva y de urgencia en la especialidad de Cirugía General realizada por el mismo equipo quirúrgico. Se clasificaron los eventos encontrados que alteraron el flujo de la cirugía relacionados con factores ambientales, de tecnología e insumos, trabajo en equipo, entrenamiento y procedimientos y otros. Resultados: En los 60 pacientes en los que se aplicó la lista de verificación se detectaron 36 eventos que alteraron el flujo normal de la cirugía sin impactar en el paciente y, de éstos, 13 fueron cuasifallas. Las cuasifallas detectadas fueron una fuga de Sevorane y fuga de oxígeno en máquinas de anestesia, falta de una aguja de sutura en el conteo final, que se encontró en cavidad, bultos de cirugía mal esterilizados con batas húmedas, falla en engrapadora quirúrgica por mal manejo del personal, engrapadoras erróneas para procedimiento a realizar, paciente bajo bloqueo espinal al que no se le sujetaron los brazos y ocasionó contaminación del campo quirúrgico. Todos estos hechos ocasionaron una disrupción del flujo quirúrgico. Conclusión: La lista de verificación es una herramienta sumamente útil para la reducción de eventos adversos en un procedimiento quirúrgico.

Objective: To assess the results of applying the surgical checklist to all patients subjected to surgery by our surgical team. Setting: Private medical institution. Design: Clinical prospective, cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Statistical analysis. Percentages as summary measure for qualitative variables. Material and methods: The surgical checklist was applied to 60 patients subjected to elective and emergency surgery in the General Surgery specialty performed by the same surgical team. We analyzed the events that altered the surgical flow related to environmental, technological factors, as well as those concerning supplies, team work, training, procedures, and others. Results: In the 60 patients in whom the surgical checklist was applied, 30 events were detected that altered the normal flow of the surgery, without having an impact on the patient. Of these, 13 were quasi-failures. The detected quasi-failures were a Sevorane leak, an oxygen leak in the anesthesia machines, missing of a suture needle in the final count, which was then found in the cavity, surgery packs inadequately sterilized with moist dressings, lack of surgical stapler due to wrong handling by the personnel, wrong stapler for the procedure to be performed, patient under spinal block whose arms were not held in place and caused contamination of the surgical field. All these events caused disruption of the surgical flow. Conclusion: The surgical checklist is a very useful tool to reduce adverse events in a surgical procedure.