Abstract

COMPARISON BETWEEN SALIVARY SUBSTITUTE SOLUTION AND SALIVARY STIMULANT IN REDUCING BURNING SENSATION INDUCED BY ORAL MUCOSITIS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIOTHERAPY FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Dr. Veena K. M., *Dr. Kavya K. R., Dr. Prashanth Shenoy, Dr. Laxmikanth Chatra, Dr. Rachana V. Prabhu

ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare between salivary substitute solution and salivary stimulant in reducing burning sensation induced by oral mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Method: The study population of 42 patients having GRADE I and GRADE II oral mucositis are undergoing radiotherapy for various head and neck cancer was included. Patients were divided into two groups, group A and group B that is 21 participants in each group. Patients in both the groups were receiving sodium bicarbonate mouth wash along with other standard of care treatments for oral mucositis. In addition to above mentioned treatments, the study group (group A) were given glycerine based salivary substitute solution and control group (group B) were given sugarless chewing gums. A scheduled oral examination was done till 21 days with a gap of 7 days each for evaluating the burning sensation by using visual analogue scale. Results: Mann Whitney test was used to compare the VAS score between the two groups and observed that from day 1 to 14 there is no significant difference between the two groups however a significant difference was noted on 21st day in the study group. Conclusion: Hence, we concluded in our study that glycerine based salivary substitute solution act as an adjuvant on reducing burning sensation when compared to sugarless chewing gums in oral mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Keywords: Glycerine, Sugarless chewing gums, Oral mucositis.