Perspectivas da terapia ocupacional no acompanhamento de pacientes mastectomizadas: relato de experiência

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational Therapy in the care of mastectomized patients aims at the performance of occupations and resumption of occupational roles according to the possibilities of the postoperative period (PO). The demands of a mastology service in a tertiary-level hospital require the work of an interdisciplinary team, with the occupational therapist being the professional responsible for evaluating and identifying limitations in the occupations' performance, and in this context also monitoring patients in the postoperative period of mastectomy. Objective: to describe the occupational therapist's professional performance in a rehabilitation outpatient clinic with mastectomized patients. Method: experience report, based on the follow-up of mastectomized patients in a University Hospital in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. The medical consultations took place at the outpatient clinic, with the resident professional's own equipment to perform the exercises and procedures; the duration of the consultations ranged from forty minutes to one hour, according to the demands presented by the patient. Results and Discussion: Rehabilitation took place through active exercise, assisted active exercise, joint mobilization, body awareness exercises and application of Kinesio Taping (KT). The range of motion (ROM) was assessed using the goniometer during the rehabilitation process. Final comments: The evolution of the patient's general condition was identified from the follow-up along with the occupational therapist, allowing the improvement in ROM, muscle strength, body awareness, pain complaint, occupational performance, quality of life of the patient and, proving the importance of the professional's performance in the hospital context.