Estudo da pressão respiratória máxima após exposição à radioterapia de mama, em mulheres

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to study the Maximal Respiratory Pressures (MRP) after exposure to breast radiation therapy in women. Method: Prospective observational study performed at the Radiotherapy sector at Hospital de Câncer Alfredo Abrão in Campo Grande/MS. The sample of this study consisted of women (N = 16) divided into two groups: women exposed to breast radiotherapy after underwent quadrantectomy surgery (Quadrantectomy group, n = 8); and women with no history of cancer (control group, n = 8). We evaluated the strength of the respiratory muscles through the Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) using the handset called manovacuometer. The examination was performed before the first session of radiotherapy and after the twenty-fifth session related to the last day of the radiotherapy treatment; evaluation of anthropometric data (weight and height) to detect the body mass index (BMI); evaluation of clinical respiratory symptoms of dyspnea using the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale and characterization of cough with the Common Pulmonary Toxicity Criteria (CTC version 2.0) in the classification of clinical pneumonitis. Results: In the Quadrantectomy Group the values for MIP resulted in 95.12 and 81.20 (p = 0.035) compared to the percentage of ideal, characterizing significant decrease when comparing the values before and after the exposure to radiotherapy. There was no significant difference between the Quadrantectomy and Control groups regarding the variables: age (p = 0.725), height (p = 0.432), weight (p = 0.237), BMI (p = 0.153), MIP (p = 0.945) and MEP (p = 0.958). There was a significance level of p <0.05, Student's t-test and Paired student’s t-test. Conclusion: The study of the maximal respiratory pressure before and after exposure to the breast radiotherapy showed significant decrease of the Maximal Inspiratory Pressure in women.