1.7.2 Effectiveness of saliva substitute for the treatment of xerostomia in postoperative patients (171)

Mª Lara Martinez Gimeno, Professor of Nursing Research, Staff Nurse, Anaesthesia and Reanimation Unit, Hospital De Móstoles, Mostoles, Spain Co authors: Mónica Roldán-Aritmendiz, Paloma Altieri-Casares, Elena Fernández-Fernández, Laura Varela-Arribas, Arancha Armario-Jiménez, Diana Fernández-Mora

Abstract:

Background:

Xerostomia affects postoperative patients and can decrease comfort. Humectant agents have been applied in this context, but there are not many evidences on their efficacy.

Aims:

To analyse the efficacy of salivary substitutes to improve xerostomia in postoperative patients and to compare them with the common practice of glycerine swabs.

Methods:

We have performed a prospective double-blinded randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy of two therapeutic options for xerostomia in postoperative patients. We have randomized 388 patients admitted to our Postoperative Care Unit (September 2005-September 2006) who reported xerostomia to receive either salivary substitutes (xylitol and betaine; experimental group) or glycerine swabs (control group). Patients with underlying disorders causing xerostomia were excluded, for their underlying pathology could modify the efficacy of the interventions. The sample size was estimated to achieve a statistical significance < 0.05 and to detect differences between both groups > 15%. To measure xerostomia we have used two different scales: one subjective with analogue scale from 0 to 10 and another more objective one with blotting paper strips (similar to the one employed for the dry eye) we have validated for the study.

Results:

Xerostomia improved in all our patients with both interventions. The mean values of the subjective scale improved from 3.38 and 3.24 in the control and experimental group, respectively before intervention to 5.98 and 6.11 after it. The rate of xerostomia measured with the objective scale decreased from 56,2% and 46.9% for the control and experimental group before intervention to 16.5% and 19.7% after it. The comparison of these means with the Student’s t test has not reached statistical significance.

Conclusions:

Xerostomia is a relevant problem in postoperative patients. Salivary substitutes and glycerine swabs significantly improve xerostomia in postoperative patients. However, our study has not shown any significant differences between both interventions.

Biography:

My name is Lara Martínez Gimeno. I am a registered nurse and also a bachelor in Human Sciences. I have been working in the Hospital General of Móstoles since 2003 and now I work at the Postoperative Care Unit. I have assisted several research methodology courses and now I teach this subject at Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid.