EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MOUTH ADEQUATE PROTOCOL IN THE PREVENTION OF ORAL MUCOSITIS IN ONCOLOGIC PATIENT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the oral medium adequacy protocol in patients with cancer subjected to antineoplastic treatment. Study Design A cohort was performed. The sample consisted of 100 adult patients, 72 patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy, 3 receiving bisphosphonate, and 69 receiving 5-fluoruracil, cyclophosphamide, taxol, and metrotrexate. The protocol established for the adaptation of the oral medium included: dental scaling and polishing, tooth extraction, and composite resin restorations. In addition to mouthwashes with chlorhexidine 0.12% without alcohol (12 in 12 hours); dexpanthenol ointment for lip hydration (2/2 per hr), mouthwashes with iced chamomile tea (2 in 2 hours), carboxymethylcellulose 2% artificial saliva (6 every 6 hours) for patients with xerostomia, and 20-second and 2-J low intensity laser therapy, toothed patients were also prescribed 0.05% sodium fluoride for mouthwashes every 24 hours. Results Of the treated patients 2 developed grade I mucositis, 23 developed grade II mucositis, and 69 did not present mucositis. We did not observe the need to enter parenteral nutrition nor to interrupt the antineoplastic treatment in any of the patients. Conclusions The oral medium adequacy protocol was effective in preventing grade III and IV mucositis and discontinuation of antineoplastic treatment.