Mastectomy is the surgical remove of the breast which is usually a surgical management for patients with breast cancer. This is done to prevent the metastasize of the cancer cells. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy experienced by women. Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of breast cells.

The nursing goal for a patient who underwent mastectomy can be: pain management, counseling due to disturbed body image, and preventing infection due to surgical incision. This post contains 8 nursing care plans for patients who underwent mastectomy.

Hyperthermia

Body temperature elevated usually occurs in response to an infection or inflammation temperature usually controlled by the Hypothalamus the thermostat for the body. Entry of microorganism can cause an alteration in the hypothalamic set point. Body temperature elevation occurs when the body’s immune response is triggered by pyrogens (fever- producing substances) and interleukin 1, a part of the innate immune system, and product by the phagocytic cells. These chemicals stimulate the cells of the hypothalamus to produce prostaglandin E, thus increasing the temperature set point. Turning up the heat is the body’s way of fighting the microorganism and making the body less comfortable place for them. When this condition occurs, many physiological stresses take place. Some of these include increased cell metabolism, increased heart rate, increased cardiac output. This process prevails until the body temperature matches the thermal point.

Impaired Skin Integrity

Mastectomy, like any other surgical procedures, includes invasion of the inside body, specifically the skin and subcutaneous area. Upon incision, there will be impairment of the skin integrity causing damage, impairment of skin circulation and sensation and pain in the incision site.

Impaired Physical Mobility

Mastectomy includes incision of vital parts such as skin, subcutaneous fats, and some muscles, that causes damage to these parts which leads to impairment of neuromuscular responses of the body, that eventually causes the body to impair it’s mobility.

Disturbed Body Image

Mastectomy as a surgical procedure involves the removal of one or both of the client’s breasts. Upon removal, there is a potential of developing a low self-esteem and social stigma due to the surgical removal of the breast creating a disturbed body image because the breast particularly for women is a sign of femininity.

Risk for Infection

Due to the operation that the patient have which is the Mastectomy, risk of acquiring infection due to the lost of primary defense which is the skin, the skin plays a major role in our body wherein it protects us from microorganisms to invade our body.

Risk for Fluid Volume Deficit

Due to the operation that the patient have which is the Mastectomy, bleeding can become severe and it can be severe. Blood contains plasma; the liquid/f. and does would lead to hypotension, and shock. In severe cases it can lead to death

Sleep Pattern Disturbance

Pain is a discomfort that is caused by the stimulation of the nerve endings. Since pain is experience by the patient there are times that he can’t control it that makes him unable to sleep and sudden wake up due to pain cause interruption to sleep causing sleep disturbance

Ineffective Peripheral Tissue Perfusion

Altered tissue perfusion is a condition wherein there is decrease in Oxygen resulting in the failure  to nourish the tissues at the capillary level because of excessive blood loss the hearts ability to pump blood compensates with what is left with the body to utilize, therefore decrease in cardiac output then results to decrease pulse rate, decrease respiratory rate, increased blood pressure and increased temperature; thus, the lumen of the blood vessels become narrowed, there is a decrease in the amount of oxygen circulating the body, leading to ineffective tissue perfusion.

Conclusion

That ends the post about mastectomy! If you have any questions, like why acute pain is not here, or any suggestions please comment below. You comments are highly-appreciated.

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