Trabalhos Originais Archives - Page 3 of 51 - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):221-225
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300008
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the presence of curved rods, suggesting Mobiluncus sp, and leukocytosis on Gram and Papanicolaou-stained vaginal smears in cases of bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: two hundred and five vaginal smears were studied by the Papanicolaou's method and other 205 vaginal smears, in the same patients, were evaluated by Gram staining. The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made clinically by one of the authors (J.E.J.) using Amsel's criteria. In the Gram method stained smears the Nugent's score was calculated and the presence of curved rods was evaluated. In Papanicolaou's smears curved rods were searched as well the presence of leukocytes. The data were analyzed by Prism 3.0® with confidence interval of 95% using the Fisher exact test with modified Wald's method. RESULTS: on Pap smears the curved rods were present in 51.7% of the cases. The number of leukocytes varied, although the leukopenia was more frequent. In Gram-stained smears the curved rods were present in 46.8% of the cases and the Nugent's score was 8 in 48.3% of the cases. The finding of Mobiluncus sp in both methods occurred in 82%. When curved rods were observed leukocytosis occurred in 57.5% (p < 0.0001). In the same way, leukocytosis was more frequent in Nugent's scores 9 and 10. CONCLUSION: curved rods were observed in about 52% of bacterial vaginosis. Leukocytosis in Pap smears was more frequent when Mobiluncus sp were found with higher Nugent's scores.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):221-225
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300008
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the presence of curved rods, suggesting Mobiluncus sp, and leukocytosis on Gram and Papanicolaou-stained vaginal smears in cases of bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: two hundred and five vaginal smears were studied by the Papanicolaou's method and other 205 vaginal smears, in the same patients, were evaluated by Gram staining. The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was made clinically by one of the authors (J.E.J.) using Amsel's criteria. In the Gram method stained smears the Nugent's score was calculated and the presence of curved rods was evaluated. In Papanicolaou's smears curved rods were searched as well the presence of leukocytes. The data were analyzed by Prism 3.0® with confidence interval of 95% using the Fisher exact test with modified Wald's method. RESULTS: on Pap smears the curved rods were present in 51.7% of the cases. The number of leukocytes varied, although the leukopenia was more frequent. In Gram-stained smears the curved rods were present in 46.8% of the cases and the Nugent's score was 8 in 48.3% of the cases. The finding of Mobiluncus sp in both methods occurred in 82%. When curved rods were observed leukocytosis occurred in 57.5% (p < 0.0001). In the same way, leukocytosis was more frequent in Nugent's scores 9 and 10. CONCLUSION: curved rods were observed in about 52% of bacterial vaginosis. Leukocytosis in Pap smears was more frequent when Mobiluncus sp were found with higher Nugent's scores.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):227-232
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300009
PURPOSE: to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in surgeries for the treatment of breast cancer. METHODS: the study was conducted on 140 women submitted to treatment of invasive breast cancer during the period from January 2001 to December 2002. SSI was defined as infection occurring up to 30 days after surgery and was related to the operation, according to the standard criteria adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. SSI were considered to be superficial when they involved only the skin and subcutaneous tissue and deep when they involved deep tissues at the site of incision, such as fascia and muscles. The risk factors related to patient were age, hormonal status, staging, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin, and the factors related to surgery were type of operation, time of hospitalization, duration of surgery, and formation of seroma and hematoma. Data concerning numerical nonparametric variables were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and quantitative variables were analyzed by the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: of the 140 patients studied, 29 (20.7%) presented SSI, which were superficial in 19 (13.6%) and deep in 10 (71%); 111 patients did not present SSI and represented the control group. The risk factors associated with the patient and the disease were locally advanced stage (odds ratio = 27; 95% CI: 1.1-6.5) and obesity, represented by a mean BMI of 32.2 kg/m² in the patients with SSI and a mean BMI of 27.2 kg/m² in the control group (p<0.0001). The factors related to treatment of the disease were the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio = 2.7 (95% CI: 1.1-6.5), the duration of surgery, whose median value was 165 minutes for the patients who developed the infection and 137 minutes for the control group (p=0.02), and the number of days of use of the postoperative drain, whose median value was 6 days for the patients with SSI and 5 days for the control group (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: on the basis of the identification of risk factors such as advanced stage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and obesity, preoperative care for these patients should be emphasized. The use of an accurate surgical technique may reduce the impact of other factors such as surgical time and time of use of the drain.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):227-232
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300009
PURPOSE: to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in surgeries for the treatment of breast cancer. METHODS: the study was conducted on 140 women submitted to treatment of invasive breast cancer during the period from January 2001 to December 2002. SSI was defined as infection occurring up to 30 days after surgery and was related to the operation, according to the standard criteria adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. SSI were considered to be superficial when they involved only the skin and subcutaneous tissue and deep when they involved deep tissues at the site of incision, such as fascia and muscles. The risk factors related to patient were age, hormonal status, staging, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin, and the factors related to surgery were type of operation, time of hospitalization, duration of surgery, and formation of seroma and hematoma. Data concerning numerical nonparametric variables were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test and quantitative variables were analyzed by the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: of the 140 patients studied, 29 (20.7%) presented SSI, which were superficial in 19 (13.6%) and deep in 10 (71%); 111 patients did not present SSI and represented the control group. The risk factors associated with the patient and the disease were locally advanced stage (odds ratio = 27; 95% CI: 1.1-6.5) and obesity, represented by a mean BMI of 32.2 kg/m² in the patients with SSI and a mean BMI of 27.2 kg/m² in the control group (p<0.0001). The factors related to treatment of the disease were the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio = 2.7 (95% CI: 1.1-6.5), the duration of surgery, whose median value was 165 minutes for the patients who developed the infection and 137 minutes for the control group (p=0.02), and the number of days of use of the postoperative drain, whose median value was 6 days for the patients with SSI and 5 days for the control group (p=0.048). CONCLUSION: on the basis of the identification of risk factors such as advanced stage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and obesity, preoperative care for these patients should be emphasized. The use of an accurate surgical technique may reduce the impact of other factors such as surgical time and time of use of the drain.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):233-240
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300010
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the existence of intra and intercytophathologists disagreement in the analysis of cervical slides previously diagnosed as atypical skin cells with undetermined significance (ASCUS), and the degree of this disagreement. METHODS: a transversal study of 50 cervical slides of Pap smears previously diagnosed as ASCUS, collected in November 2000 in Contagem town. They were analyzed and classified by four cytopathologists according to the first Bethesda system review of 1991 (normal, atrophic alteration, inflammatory alteration, suggestive of LoSIL, suggestive of HiSIL, suggestive of invasive carcinoma and others). After the first analysis, the slides were renumbered in a random order and sent to the same cytophathologists for a new exam. The Kappa test and the weighted Kappa were used in the analysis of the results. RESULTS: there was a high degree of disagreement between the different analyses of the same cytopathologist, varying from 7.8 to 74.4% according to the Kappa test. When a weight of 20% was settled for each degree of disagreement, these values increased from 16.1% for the cytopathologist A to 81.08% for the cytopathologist B. Concerning the comparative analyses made by different examiners the Kappa test values obtained varied from 50.6% to 63.4% in the normal and weighted versions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: this study confirms the existence of subjectivity in the analysis of the ASCUS category and imprecision in the analysis criteria by the same examiner.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(3):233-240
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000300010
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the existence of intra and intercytophathologists disagreement in the analysis of cervical slides previously diagnosed as atypical skin cells with undetermined significance (ASCUS), and the degree of this disagreement. METHODS: a transversal study of 50 cervical slides of Pap smears previously diagnosed as ASCUS, collected in November 2000 in Contagem town. They were analyzed and classified by four cytopathologists according to the first Bethesda system review of 1991 (normal, atrophic alteration, inflammatory alteration, suggestive of LoSIL, suggestive of HiSIL, suggestive of invasive carcinoma and others). After the first analysis, the slides were renumbered in a random order and sent to the same cytophathologists for a new exam. The Kappa test and the weighted Kappa were used in the analysis of the results. RESULTS: there was a high degree of disagreement between the different analyses of the same cytopathologist, varying from 7.8 to 74.4% according to the Kappa test. When a weight of 20% was settled for each degree of disagreement, these values increased from 16.1% for the cytopathologist A to 81.08% for the cytopathologist B. Concerning the comparative analyses made by different examiners the Kappa test values obtained varied from 50.6% to 63.4% in the normal and weighted versions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: this study confirms the existence of subjectivity in the analysis of the ASCUS category and imprecision in the analysis criteria by the same examiner.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):117-123
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200006
PURPOSE: to assess the natural pregnancy rates in rabbits submitted to bilateral oophorectomy and orthotopic autologous (both intact and sliced) ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle and to verify the morphofunctional aspects of reimplanted ovaries. METHOD: thirty-two female New Zealand White rabbits were studied. The ovaries were removed and orthotopically replaced without vascular anastomosis. In the control group (GC) (n=8), only laparotomy was carried out. In the RI group (n=8) intact ovaries were reimplanted in both sides. In the RF group (n=8) the ovaries were sliced and orthotopically reimplanted. In the RIF group (n=8), in one side the intact ovary and in the other side the sliced ovary was reimplanted.Three months later, the animals were paired with sexually mature males for copulation. Estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were assessed nine months after surgery. Histologic study of the transplanted ovaries, tubes and uteri was carried out, and the number of pregnancies and animals per litter in each group was taken into account as well. The chi² test compared the pregnancy and the litters between the groups. Student's t test compared the hormone determinations. Significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: pregnancies occurred in all rabbits of the GC, between the second and third months after copulation, with 6 to 10 animals per litter for animal. In the other groups, the pregnancies occurred between the fifth and eighth postoperative month. Pregnancies occurred in 37.5% of rabbits in group RI, and in 50% of the RF and RIF groups. There was no difference between the number of animals per litter in the reimplanted groups, with 1 to 4 animals per litter for each animal. Hormone levels and histology confirmed the vitality of all ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: intact or sliced orthotopic autologous ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle is viable in rabbits, and preserves the hormonal and fertile functions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):117-123
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200006
PURPOSE: to assess the natural pregnancy rates in rabbits submitted to bilateral oophorectomy and orthotopic autologous (both intact and sliced) ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle and to verify the morphofunctional aspects of reimplanted ovaries. METHOD: thirty-two female New Zealand White rabbits were studied. The ovaries were removed and orthotopically replaced without vascular anastomosis. In the control group (GC) (n=8), only laparotomy was carried out. In the RI group (n=8) intact ovaries were reimplanted in both sides. In the RF group (n=8) the ovaries were sliced and orthotopically reimplanted. In the RIF group (n=8), in one side the intact ovary and in the other side the sliced ovary was reimplanted.Three months later, the animals were paired with sexually mature males for copulation. Estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were assessed nine months after surgery. Histologic study of the transplanted ovaries, tubes and uteri was carried out, and the number of pregnancies and animals per litter in each group was taken into account as well. The chi² test compared the pregnancy and the litters between the groups. Student's t test compared the hormone determinations. Significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: pregnancies occurred in all rabbits of the GC, between the second and third months after copulation, with 6 to 10 animals per litter for animal. In the other groups, the pregnancies occurred between the fifth and eighth postoperative month. Pregnancies occurred in 37.5% of rabbits in group RI, and in 50% of the RF and RIF groups. There was no difference between the number of animals per litter in the reimplanted groups, with 1 to 4 animals per litter for each animal. Hormone levels and histology confirmed the vitality of all ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: intact or sliced orthotopic autologous ovarian transplantation without vascular pedicle is viable in rabbits, and preserves the hormonal and fertile functions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):139-146
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200009
PURPOSE: to evaluate whether oral and vaginal sex practice, with or without exposure to semen, decrease the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHOD: this was a case-control study carried out between May 2000 and April 2003. A questionnaire was applied analyzing the clinical, obstetric and sexual history of women, who were divided into two groups: a case group comprised 116 patients with a history of at least two spontaneous abortions, without previous pregnancy longer than 22 weeks, and a control group that included 241 women with history of one or more term pregnancies with live birth and no miscarriage. The analyzed variables included the number of sexual partners, condom use, oral sex practice, and the exposure of female oral mucosa to semen. RESULTS: in the control group 38.8%, and in the patients group 35.7% of the women had only one partner. In both groups about 75% of the women reported that the partners did not use condom. Approximately 55% of the women of both groups referred oral sex practice, and 13.8% of those with recurrent abortion and 20.3% with a history of successful pregnancies had oral mucosa exposed to semen. There was no difference between the patients with recurrent abortion and women with successful pregnancies regarding number of sexual partners, use of condom, practice of oral sex, and exposure of oral mucosa to the partner's semen. CONCLUSION: our results did not confirm the hypothesis that sexual behavior influences the occurrence of spontaneous abortion.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):139-146
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200009
PURPOSE: to evaluate whether oral and vaginal sex practice, with or without exposure to semen, decrease the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHOD: this was a case-control study carried out between May 2000 and April 2003. A questionnaire was applied analyzing the clinical, obstetric and sexual history of women, who were divided into two groups: a case group comprised 116 patients with a history of at least two spontaneous abortions, without previous pregnancy longer than 22 weeks, and a control group that included 241 women with history of one or more term pregnancies with live birth and no miscarriage. The analyzed variables included the number of sexual partners, condom use, oral sex practice, and the exposure of female oral mucosa to semen. RESULTS: in the control group 38.8%, and in the patients group 35.7% of the women had only one partner. In both groups about 75% of the women reported that the partners did not use condom. Approximately 55% of the women of both groups referred oral sex practice, and 13.8% of those with recurrent abortion and 20.3% with a history of successful pregnancies had oral mucosa exposed to semen. There was no difference between the patients with recurrent abortion and women with successful pregnancies regarding number of sexual partners, use of condom, practice of oral sex, and exposure of oral mucosa to the partner's semen. CONCLUSION: our results did not confirm the hypothesis that sexual behavior influences the occurrence of spontaneous abortion.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):105-110
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200004
PURPOSE: to evaluate the high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) detection rate of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), checking the association between high-risk HPV, viral load and severity of the lesion, as well as the best viral load cutoff to predict lesion severity. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study. One hundred and ten patients were selected by cytology and/or biopsy with CIN diagnosis. All of them were submitted to a new oncologic cytology, hybrid capture II (HC II), colposcopy, and loop electrosurgical excision and fulguration procedures (LEEP). RESULTS: the global detection rate of high-risk oncogenic HPV in these women was 77.3%. Eighty-one women (73.7%) had CIN with a detection rate of HPV-DNA of 87.6%. In women with CIN 2 or 3 the detection rate was 85.9%. HC II had a sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 56.0%, predictive positive value of 86.6% and predictive negative value of 58.3%, with an odds ratio of 7.76 (2.47 < OR < 25.15) for CIN 2 or 3 diagnosis. Using a receiver operator characteristic curve a viral load cutoff was set at 20 pg/mL in this population, with a predictive positive value of 81.3%. CONCLUSIONS: HPV DNA detection rate of patients with CIN was 77.3%. In women with CIN 2/3 it was 85.9%. The best viral load cutoff to predict cervical lesion severity was 20 pg/ml. Above this level the probability of high-risk oncogenic HPV detection is greater than 80%.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):105-110
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200004
PURPOSE: to evaluate the high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) detection rate of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), checking the association between high-risk HPV, viral load and severity of the lesion, as well as the best viral load cutoff to predict lesion severity. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study. One hundred and ten patients were selected by cytology and/or biopsy with CIN diagnosis. All of them were submitted to a new oncologic cytology, hybrid capture II (HC II), colposcopy, and loop electrosurgical excision and fulguration procedures (LEEP). RESULTS: the global detection rate of high-risk oncogenic HPV in these women was 77.3%. Eighty-one women (73.7%) had CIN with a detection rate of HPV-DNA of 87.6%. In women with CIN 2 or 3 the detection rate was 85.9%. HC II had a sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 56.0%, predictive positive value of 86.6% and predictive negative value of 58.3%, with an odds ratio of 7.76 (2.47 < OR < 25.15) for CIN 2 or 3 diagnosis. Using a receiver operator characteristic curve a viral load cutoff was set at 20 pg/mL in this population, with a predictive positive value of 81.3%. CONCLUSIONS: HPV DNA detection rate of patients with CIN was 77.3%. In women with CIN 2/3 it was 85.9%. The best viral load cutoff to predict cervical lesion severity was 20 pg/ml. Above this level the probability of high-risk oncogenic HPV detection is greater than 80%.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):111-116
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the characteristics of sexual violence against women, the types of sexual crimes and resulting body lesions. METHODS: descriptive study based on the information obtained from the medical records of 102 victims of sexual violence who were seen at the Maria-Maria project from March 2002 to March 2003 and who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The characteristics of the violence, the types of crimes and the body injuries are described. For calculation and analysis of the data, the Epi-Info, version 6.04, program, for simple percentages and frequency distribution were used. RESULTS: ages of the victims ranged from 1 to 68 years, 65.7% were younger than 20 years and one in four was younger than 9 years. The majority were single (78.3%) and with a low educational level (74.2%). The crime predominated at night (64.7%), in a secluded area (39.2%), followed by the victim's home (34.3%), and at the location of the attack (67.6%). Among the adolescent victims, the unknown attacker predominated, while among the children the attackers were men known to the victims. In the case of the children younger than 10 years, indecent assault was the most frequent crime (73.8%) while rape was the most frequent crime among the adolescents (66.4%). Body trauma occurred in 76.7% of the cases, mainly hematomas, vulva edema and abrasions. CONCLUSION: sexual violence predominated among children and adolescents, single women and with low educational level. The aggression happened more frequently during the night, by an unknown person, in a secluded area, in the case of adolescents, and by a known person (mainly neighbour), in the victim's home, in the case of children. Rape was the most frequent kind of crime among adolescents and among children it was indecent assault, usually associated with genital and corporeal trauma.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):111-116
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the characteristics of sexual violence against women, the types of sexual crimes and resulting body lesions. METHODS: descriptive study based on the information obtained from the medical records of 102 victims of sexual violence who were seen at the Maria-Maria project from March 2002 to March 2003 and who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The characteristics of the violence, the types of crimes and the body injuries are described. For calculation and analysis of the data, the Epi-Info, version 6.04, program, for simple percentages and frequency distribution were used. RESULTS: ages of the victims ranged from 1 to 68 years, 65.7% were younger than 20 years and one in four was younger than 9 years. The majority were single (78.3%) and with a low educational level (74.2%). The crime predominated at night (64.7%), in a secluded area (39.2%), followed by the victim's home (34.3%), and at the location of the attack (67.6%). Among the adolescent victims, the unknown attacker predominated, while among the children the attackers were men known to the victims. In the case of the children younger than 10 years, indecent assault was the most frequent crime (73.8%) while rape was the most frequent crime among the adolescents (66.4%). Body trauma occurred in 76.7% of the cases, mainly hematomas, vulva edema and abrasions. CONCLUSION: sexual violence predominated among children and adolescents, single women and with low educational level. The aggression happened more frequently during the night, by an unknown person, in a secluded area, in the case of adolescents, and by a known person (mainly neighbour), in the victim's home, in the case of children. Rape was the most frequent kind of crime among adolescents and among children it was indecent assault, usually associated with genital and corporeal trauma.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):125-130
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the efficacy of a physical exercise protocol in the recovery of shoulder movement in women who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection due to breast carcinoma, comparing free and restricted amplitude movements. METHODS: 59 women who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection associated with modified mastectomy (46) or quadrantectomy (13) were included in this clinical, prospective and randomized study. On the first day after surgery 30 women were randomized to do the shoulder movement with free amplitude and 29 women had this amplitude restricted to 90º in the first 15 days. Nineteen exercises were done, three sessions per week, for six weeks. Mean (± standard error) deficits of shoulder flexion and abduction were compared, as well as gross and adjusted incidence rates of seroma and dehiscence. RESULTS: 42 days after surgery, flexion and abduction means were similar in the two groups. Both presented a mean flexion deficit (17.2º and 21.6º, respectively), and abduction deficit (19.7º and 26.6º, respectively). The incidence rates of seroma and dehiscence were neither related to exercise nor to the type of surgery, time of drain permanence, number of dissected or compromised lymph nodes, age or obesity. CONCLUSION: early physiotherapy with free movement of the women's shoulder was associated neither with functional capacity nor with postsurgical complications.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):125-130
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the efficacy of a physical exercise protocol in the recovery of shoulder movement in women who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection due to breast carcinoma, comparing free and restricted amplitude movements. METHODS: 59 women who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection associated with modified mastectomy (46) or quadrantectomy (13) were included in this clinical, prospective and randomized study. On the first day after surgery 30 women were randomized to do the shoulder movement with free amplitude and 29 women had this amplitude restricted to 90º in the first 15 days. Nineteen exercises were done, three sessions per week, for six weeks. Mean (± standard error) deficits of shoulder flexion and abduction were compared, as well as gross and adjusted incidence rates of seroma and dehiscence. RESULTS: 42 days after surgery, flexion and abduction means were similar in the two groups. Both presented a mean flexion deficit (17.2º and 21.6º, respectively), and abduction deficit (19.7º and 26.6º, respectively). The incidence rates of seroma and dehiscence were neither related to exercise nor to the type of surgery, time of drain permanence, number of dissected or compromised lymph nodes, age or obesity. CONCLUSION: early physiotherapy with free movement of the women's shoulder was associated neither with functional capacity nor with postsurgical complications.
