Cryotherapy could be a viable intervention that can significantly reduce the occurrence of severe oral mucositis.

PMID: 

Int J Nurs Pract. 2019 Oct ;25(5):e12759. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31290244

Abstract Title: 

Meta-analysis of oral cryotherapy in preventing oral mucositis associated with cancer therapy.

Abstract: 

AIMS: To review scientific evidence related to oral cryotherapy to prevent oral mucositis after cancer therapy.BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common complication of cancer therapy. In the most severe form of oral mucositis, patients cannot eat or drink at all and must receive nutrition and fluid replacement through parenteral support. Topical cooling of the oral mucosa may be an option for the prevention of oral mucositis.DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.DATA SOURCES: The literature search was performed using the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL Complete electronic databases for articles published up to 2017. The reference lists of all retrieved articles were manually reviewed to identify additional relevant studies.RESULTS: Of 353 publications, 15 randomized controlled trials, involving 919 cancer patients, conducted between 1994 and 2017 were included in the present meta-analysis. Oral cryotherapy, applied during treatment of solid cancers, led to a statistically lower level (P 

read more