Minimizing Pathologic Aspiration in Patients Undergoing Esophageal and Lung Resections for Cancer

University of Mississippi

Status: Completed

Conditions: Esophageal Cancer; Lung Cancer

Treatments: Other: Oral Hygiene Education and Oral Hygiene Packets

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04251312

2019-0327

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to reduce pathologic aspiration and pneumonia in the perioperative period by providing an oral care and oral hygiene education to patients preoperatively. Patients enrolled in the study will be given a dysphagia screening questionnaire, an oral care package and oral hygiene education. Patients who screen positive for dysphagia will be referred to Speech Pathology for evaluation. The rate of postoperative pneumonia will be determined for those who participate in the study and will be compared to retrospective patient data from our institution.

Full description

Aspiration by high risk esophageal and lung cancer patients with either preexisting or post-therapy/post-operative dysphagia leads to morbidity (pneumonia) and mortality following surgery. The aim of this study is to reduce pathologic aspiration and pneumonia in the perioperative period by providing an oral care and oral hygiene education to patients preoperatively. Patients enrolled in the study will be given a dysphagia screening questionnaire, an oral care package and oral hygiene education. Patients who screen positive for dysphagia will be referred to Speech Pathology for evaluation. The rate of postoperative pneumonia will be determined for those who participate in the study and will be compared to retrospective patient data from our institution.

Enrollment: 49 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing elective esophageal or lung resections for cancer at our institution

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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49 participants in 1 patient group

Preoperative dental hygiene education

Experimental group

Description:

Patients who are scheduled for elective esophageal or lung resections who consent to participate will undergo oral hygiene education and be given an oral hygiene packet. An oral hygiene assessment using the Plaque Assessment tool will be conducted in the clinic. A Dysphagia Screening Tool questionnaire will also be administered. Patients who screen positive for dysphagia will be referred to Speech Pathology for evaluation but for the study purposes, the only data collected from the evaluation will be whether or not the participant received this intervention. A repeat dental exam will occur on the day of surgery. Patients will be followed for 30 days post operatively.

Treatment:

Other: Oral Hygiene Education and Oral Hygiene Packets