The Effects of Nursing Interventions on Early Postoperative Wound Complications and Lymphedema in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review

Objective: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer type globally and the leading cancer among women. Its incidence continues to rise worldwide, necessitating both local and systemic treatments. These therapies often result in various physical and psychosocial challenges for patients. This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on the effectiveness of nursing interventions targeting physical complications—specifically postoperative wound complications and lymphedema—in individuals undergoing breast cancer surgery, and to evaluate their impact on clinical and patient-reported outcomes.

Materials-Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies published between January 1, 2010, and April 1, 2025, using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect. The PICOS framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study design) was adopted to guide the development of inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as search strategies. The search was performed using the keywords: (“Breast Cancer Surgery” OR “Mastectomy”) AND (“Nursing Care” OR “Nursing Intervention”) AND (“Complication” OR “Symptom Management”). Studies that met the eligibility criteria were screened based on their titles and abstracts. A total of 14 studies were included in the final review.

Results: The included studies encompassed data from 1,643 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Nursing interventions aimed at preventing or managing wound complications and lymphedema included the use of supportive bras, structured physical activity programs, simple lymphatic drainage massage, patient education, home visits, wound site monitoring, personalized diet and sleep plans, complication tracking, evidence-based nursing protocols, psychological support, motivational counseling, comfort-focused care, and online education modules. All reviewed studies demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of complications following the interventions.

Conclusion(s): Nursing interventions were found to contribute positively to both clinical and patient-reported outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of supporting such interventions and implementing routine training programs for nurses on postoperative wound care, wound-related complications, and lymphedema to enhance the quality of patient care.

Keywords: Nursing Intervention, Lymphedema, Breast Cancer Surgery, Wound Complications