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

To review scientific evidence related to oral cryotherapy to prevent oral mucositis after cancer therapy.

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.

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

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.

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 < .05) of oral mucositis overall, and of the more severe grades (3-4 and 2-4).

Results of this study provide a scientific basis for oral cryotherapy as a viable nursing intervention that can significantly reduce the occurrence of severe oral mucositis.