Title:
Evaluation of Breast Engorgement and Intra-mammary Hemodynamicsusing Portable Echo

Authors:
Mami Nishikage, Minami Isono, Chiaki Tanaka, Hitomi Kasai, Mika Sudo, and Yumiko Tateoka, Japan

Abstract:

While the use of a breast band has declined with the widespread adoption of nursing bras, mothers who complain of significant mastalgia can use breast elevation. This method of maintaining the breast in a conical shapeaimed at alleviating the symptoms of breast engorgement. However, its effectiveness in promoting blood flow in the breast has not been ascertained using objective indices. In this study, we aimed to examine the bra-wearing effect on blood flow in the axillary arteries and veins of women with breast engorgement symptoms, along with the bra use effect during lactation and relief from engorgement. After 12 women experienced breast engorgement on postpartum day 3, they wore a bra for 3 hours. Axillary arteriovenous blood flow was measured pre- and post-breastfeeding, as well as pre- and post-wearing a bra using portable echo. The pul-satility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices were calculated. Blood flow in the axillary artery was quantified for four women with non-wired bras. Blood flow in the axillary vein was quantified for one and four women wearing wired and non-wired bras, respectively. The changes after breast-feeding before and after wearing a bra were assessed. The axillary artery’s RI decreased after wearing non-wired bras, indicating increased blood flow into the breast and reduced vascular re-sistance. For the axillary veins, the PI and RI decreased after wearing wired bras, indicating re-duced vascular resistance and blood flow outside the breast. The PI and RI increased after wearing non-wired bras, indicating restricted blood return. Bras that raise the entire breast uniformly may facilitate adequate blood circulation, thus, influencing bra selection.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2024.8605