Abstract
Objective:
To obtain scientific evidence of alterations in puerperal breast based on clinical examinations and pain measurements using pressure algometry and thermography.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive and experimental study examined six lactating women included in a Human Milk Bank. Using clinical examinations, pressure algometry, and thermography, data from puerperal mammary glands were collected. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative variables expressed as averages, minimal and maximal values, and standard deviations was conducted. Image analyses were performed using a ThermaCAM™ 2.9 (FLIR Systems, Inc.) software.
Results:
Flaccid mammary glands were the coldest, with an average temperature of 32.7°C (SD±0.32386°C), and more tolerant to pain, with an average of 1.87 kgf/m2 (SD ±0.29558 kgf/m2). The greater the degree of engorgement, the higher the temperature observed.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that it is possible to use clinical examinations, pressure algometry, and infrared thermography to delineate patterns between various events affecting the mammary glands during lactation.
Keywords
Lactation disorders; Thermography; Pain measurement; Nursing diagnosis; Postpartum period
