Mastectomy | early and late complications

Complications of Mastectomy
Various complications can arise during or following the procedure of Radical Mastectomy. These can be categorized as early complications or late complications.

Early complications:

•  In our previous article, we saw that while operating, the nerves and veins around the breast have to be carefully preserved. So, the first complication that arises would be while operation, if the nerves and veins are injured. Injury to nerves of serratus anterior and lattisimus dorsi can take place. Cephalic or axillary veins can also be damaged affecting the circulation in and around the breast and increasing the chances of developing 'post-operative edema'
•  Chances of having an infection post-op are high if there's some amount of collection.
•  Because of the collection of fluid, there may be tension in the sutures.
•  If suturing is done under tension then sloughing of skin may occur.

Late complications:

• First of all, there can be a chance of local recurrence of cancer in the same area.
• There can be recurrence around the previous site, like in the axillla.
• There can be formation of distant metastases, like in the opposite breast.
• Difficulty with shoulder movements can be experienced.

edema seen in the right arm

• Swelling or edema of the arm which is of two types:

Pitting edema: this happens because of lymphangitis (inflammation of lymphatics) in the early post-op days.

Non-pitting edema or Brawny arm: this occurs as a very late complication due to injured or inflammation     of the lymphatics which block the drainage. It can also occur because of axillary recurrence sometimes.

The pitting edema is avoidable and manageable with conservative approaches by giving timely and regular  Physical Therapy. 

Also read
Introduction to Mastectomy.
Mastectomy-types of surgeries.
Preoperative preparation of patients.
Biopsy-introduction,facts and methods.
Cancer and surgery.
12 causes of cancer.
Brachytherapy for prostate cancer.