Vaginal stenosis in women with cervical or endometrial cancer after pelvic radiotherapy: a cross-sectional study of vaginal measurements, risk for sexual dysfunction and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Radiotherapy (RT) for cervical (CC) and endometrial cancer (EC) is known to lead to vaginal stenosis (VS), but the comparison between vaginal anatomical measurements and the risk of sexual dysfunction presents a wide variety of results among the literature. Thus, we sought to assess the prevalence of VS, vaginal measurements, sexual dysfunction and QOL in women with CC and EC submitted to pelvic RT with or without previous surgery. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included 61 women with CC and 69 with EC. VS was classified by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects version 5.0 (CTCAE v5.0), sexual function by the validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and QOL by the validated World Health Organization questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Acrylic cylinders were used for vaginal measurements. Uni-/multivariate analyses to address factors associated with VC in both groups were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of VS was 79% and 67% within patients with CC and EC, respectively. Vagina length was decreased in both groups without statistical difference (7.2 ± 1.7 vs. 6.6 ± 1.8;p = 0.072). Vaginal diameter was significantly higher (p = 0.047) in women with EC (25.4 ± 6.3) than in those with CC (23.1 ± 5.7). Sexual dysfunction was highly prevalent for both CC and EC (88% vs. 91%; p = 0.598). There was no difference in all WHOQOL-BREF domains between women with CC and EC. CONCLUSIONS: VS is highly prevalent in CC and EC patients, with vaginal length decreased in both groups but with a higher vaginal diameter in those with EC. Nevertheless, sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both groups.

Effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with vaginal laxity: A study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal laxity is an underreported condition that negatively affects women's sexual function and their relationships. Evidence-based studies are needed to better understand this complaint and to discuss its treatment options. Thus, we present a study protocol to compare the effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with complaints of vaginal laxity. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, parallel-group, two-arm, randomized clinical trial (Registry: RBR-2zdvfp-REBEC). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups of intervention (Radiofrequency or Pelvic Floor Muscle Training). The study will be performed in the Urogynecology outpatient clinic and in the physiotherapy outpatient clinic at the State University of Campinas-UNICAMP and will include women aged ≥ 18 years and with self-reported complaints of vaginal laxity. Participants will be assessed at baseline (pre-intervention period) and will be followed up in two periods: first follow-up (30 days after intervention) and second follow-up (six months after intervention). EXPECTED RESULTS: The results of this randomized clinical trial will have a positive impact on the participants' quality of life, as well as add value to the development of treatment options for women with complaints of vaginal laxity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry: RBR-2zdvfp-Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos-REBEC (19/02/2020).

Manual lymphatic drainage and multilayer compression therapy for vulvar edema: a case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vulvar edema is a condition rarely reported and without defined treatment that may result in functional limitation. The aim of the report is to describe a case series of patients with disabling vulvar edema of different etiologies that were treated with manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and multilayer compression therapy (MCT). CASE SERIES: Four cases of vulvar edema are described: one in a woman with cervical cancer; one in a woman in the postoperative period of bilateral adrenalectomy for pheocromocytoma; and two in pregnant women with preeclampsia. All cases were treated with MLD and MCT during hospitalization. OUTCOMES: Total resolution of the edema occurred in 2 to 5 d of treatment. CONCLUSION: The present case series is the first to report the use of the MLD and MCT in the successful management of female genital edema. This report suggests that the vulvar edemas for these four patients treated with MLD and MCT seem to resolve faster than expected based on previously reported untreated edemas or edemas treated with different therapeutic approaches.

Manual lymphatic drainage versus exercise in the early postoperative period for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of active exercise and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) on postoperative wound healing complications, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and upper limb (UL) perimetry in women undergoing radical mastectomy for breast cancer. METHODS: Controlled non-randomized clinical trial with 89 women undergoing breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: 906). Women were matched for staging, age and body mass index, with 46 women allocated to the exercise group and 43 in the MLD group, receiving 2 weekly sessions during one month. Assessments were performed in the preoperative and 60 d after surgery, including inspection, palpation, goniometry and perimetry. RESULTS: No significant difference existed between groups relative to individual and clinical surgical characteristics. The incidence of seroma, number of punctures performed, dehiscence and infection was similar in both groups. A comparison of shoulder ROM and UL perimetry between groups, obtained in the preoperative and postoperative period, did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSION: The performance of active exercise or MLD did not demonstrate difference in wound healing complications, shoulder ROM and UL perimetry at 60 d after surgery, suggesting that these techniques may be employed, according to the complaints or symptoms of each woman and physical therapist experience.

Immediate breast reconstruction with transverse latissimus dorsi flap does not affect the short-term recovery of shoulder range of motion after mastectomy.

Immediate breast reconstruction, depending on the surgical strategy, can result in anatomic modifications that may affect the shoulder apparatus. This study compares the recovery of shoulder range of motion (ROM), after mastectomy, in women with and without immediate breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap (LDF). This was a prospective study with 87 women who underwent mastectomy (41 with LDF). Shoulder ROM was assessed with goniometry, with a universal full-circle manual goniometer, prior to surgery, and on a weekly basis during the first 4 weeks postoperatively. Reconstruction with LDF was not associated with a decrease in shoulder ROM (P = 0.84). By the end of the 4-week assessment program, women in both groups still had an average reduction of 30 degrees in their shoulder ROM compared with baseline. Factors significantly associated with a reduction in shoulder ROM during the recovery period were complete dissection of the axilla, current smoking behavior, and presence of painful axillary cords. It is likely that breast reconstruction with LDF has little or no effect on shoulder ROM in the immediate postoperative period. It is also possible that LDF effects (if any) are overridden by the major reduction (over 30% in the immediate postoperative period, subsiding partially during the first weeks postoperatively) in shoulder ROM caused by mastectomy.

Implications of a postoperative rehabilitation program on quality of life in women with primary breast cancer treated with sentinel lymph node biopsy or complete axillary lymph node dissection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in early-stage breast cancer patients and to investigate the effects of a comprehensive rehabilitation program comparing women undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SNB) versus complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). QoL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy--General and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy--Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire. METHODS: Eighty-nine women with histologically confirmed primary breast cancer stages I-II were enrolled. Recruitment began on May 2006 and ended on December 2007. According to current standards of care, 58 women were found clinically fit to undergo SNB, and the other 31 were elected for ALND. Thirty women who underwent SNB were randomly allocated to participate in a comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation program, and the 28 remaining were dismissed and scheduled to return for clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Women undergoing ALND had a better QoL within 30 days of surgery on the FACT-B, FACT-G, Trial Outcome Index (TOI), emotional well-being (EWB), and breast concern subscale (BCS) (P < .005) and at 6 months after surgery on the EWB subscale only. Women undergoing SNB had a significant improvement in QoL only on the EWB subscale 6 months after surgery in the group with rehabilitation and 30 days after surgery in the group without rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Women undergoing ALND benefited from a rehabilitation program and had a better QoL. Women undergoing BLS, regardless of rehabilitation, showed improvement in QoL for the emotional well-being subscale only.

Orientação domiciliar: proposta de reabilitação física para mulheres submetidas à cirurgia por câncer de mama / Home exercise: Physical rehabilitation proposal for women submitted to breast cancer surgery

Objetivo: Comparar a eficácia de um programa de reabilitação física domiciliar por meio de manual ilustrativo para mulheres operadas por câncer mamário com um programa de exercícios físicos supervisionados por fisioterapeuta. Ensaio clínico prospectivo incluindo 56 mulheres submetidas à cirurgia por câncer de mama, randomizadas em dois grupos: (1) 28 mulheres participantes do programa de reabilitação supervisionado por fisioterapeuta e (2) 28 mulheres orientadas a fazer exercícios físicos em domicílio utilizando manual ilustrativo. Nos dois grupos os exercícios físicos foram realizados em duas sessões semanais durante dois meses. Avaliaram-se a flexão e a abdução do ombro através da goniometria, a aderência cicatricial através da palpação, e as dificuldades para comparecer às sessões (grupo 1) ou realizar os exercícios físicos em domicílio (grupo 2), segundo questionário elaborado previamente.A mobilidade do ombro diminuiu em ambos os grupos quinze dias após a cirurgia com recuperação progressiva. Após dois meses permaneceu um déficit médio de 6° de flexão de ombro de 13,4° e 7,7°, respectivamente. Vestir-se e cuidar da higiene foram as atividades mais difíceis em ambos os grupos. Nas mulheres do grupo 1, os efeitos colaterais da quimioterapia justificaram 55 das faltas. Entre as mulheres do grupo 2, 46...