Oral Cryotherapy for Oral Mucositis in Patients Receiving Busulfan: A Retrospective/Prospective Descriptive Study

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether oral cryotherapy (OC) mitigates oral mucositis (OM) resulting from busulfan chemotherapy. SAMPLE & SETTING: Electronic health records of patients undergoing busulfan conditioning for blood and marrow transplantation were reviewed for this descriptive study. The post-OC group received OC with busulfan, but the pre-OC group did not. METHODS & VARIABLES: Demographic and disease characteristics for both groups were summarized using descriptive statistics. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was performed for continuous and ordinal measures, and chi-square tests were performed for categorical outcomes between the two groups. RESULTS: This study found a decrease in the severity of OM as assessed by the World Health Organization OM scale. This study also found a reduction of total parenteral nutrition and opioid pain medication use, as well as a decrease in length of stay and airway protection-related intensive care unit transfers. An increase in day 11 methotrexate administration for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis was observed in the post-OC group. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: OC is a safe and easily implemented intervention that can decrease OM in patients receiving busulfan chemotherapy.

Automated summary

This study shows that oral cryotherapy can reduce the severity of oral mucositis caused by busulfan chemotherapy. It also decreases the use of total parenteral nutrition and opioid pain medication, shortens the length of hospital stay, and reduces airway protection-related intensive care unit transfers. However, it should be noted that the use of this intervention may increase the administration of methotrexate for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.