Within the framework of a collaboration agreement with the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), DENTAID has participated in important research to increase the quality of life of children with haematological/oncological disease through the improvement of their oral condition. 

Martínez Pérez EM, Gómez Clemente V, Adanero Velasco A, Mata Fernández C, Huerta Aragoneses J, Cañadas Murillo A, Planells del Pozo P. Evaluación del protocolo para la prevención de la mucositis oral en pacientes pediátricos oncohematológicos (Evaluation of the protocol for the prevention of oral mucositis in paediatric haematology/oncology patients) at the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid. 

The objective of the research carried out by DENTAID under the agreement with the Department of Clinical Specialities at the College of Dentistry of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), was to implement an intervention protocol in children with haematological/oncological disease to increase their quality of life through the treatment of mucositis. 

It is an extremely important protocol, as the reduction of mucositis in these patients can greatly improve their quality of life. Some cases of severe mucositis may occasionally lead to the patient not being able to eat solid foods and having to be fed parenterally or to the treatment being suspended, with possibly fatal consequences ensuing. 

INTRODUCTION 

Oral mucositis (OM) is a term describing the inflammatory response of the epithelial cells of the oral mucosa to the cytotoxic effects of cancer treatment. Its high incidence and impact on quality of life, as well as patient prognosis, have led to numerous studies and interventions for its prevention and treatment, exposing the lack of homogeneous standards. 

OBJECTIVES 

As a general objective of the study, the proposition was to evaluate the efficacy of a clinical intervention protocol for the prevention of oral mucositis in paediatric haematology-oncology patients at the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid. The specific objective was to ascertain the incidence of mucositis and to determine the degree of incidence, before and after the application of our oral protocol. 

MATERIAL AND METHODS 

A pre- and post-comparative study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the mucositis prevention protocol in a sample of 20 children undergoing cancer treatment. For this analysis, we included children who had already received a prior round of chemotherapy and had developed mucositis before the establishment of this prevention protocol. Data were collected on the medications used, the neutrophil count and the presence, degree and duration of mucositis (if applicable), retrospectively and from the medical history of each patient. 

The children and their parents were instructed on how to apply the prevention protocol, and the products required were provided: VITIS^® surgical brush, Fluor Aid^® 0.05 daily mouthwash, Perio·Aid^® 0.05 maintenance, dentaid^® Xeros toothpaste and dentaid^® Xeros tablets and gum. 

The same data mentioned above were collected after the round of chemotherapy. Children who acknowledged not having followed the protocol and those who were going to receive chemotherapy with very different combinations from those in the previous round were excluded from the analysis. 

CONCLUSION 

Compliance with the clinical intervention protocol can help reduce the duration and severity of oral mucositis, thereby improving patients’ quality of life and the success of cancer treatment.