Munnstell og munnhygiene til medisinske pasienter. En kartlegging blant sykepleiere i medisinsk avdeling

Abstract

Nina Karlsen, høgskolelektor, kandidat i sykepleievitenskap, VID vitenskapelig høyskole, Fakultet for helsefag, Oslo, nina.karlsen@vid.no Birgit Brunborg, dosent, kandidat

A Narrative of Oral Care in Palliative Patients

“…The purpose of mucosal cleansing in palliative care is to remove coatings, prevent infections and thereby reduce pain. It is recommended that the teeth are brushed with a soft brush and with toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) [19,20]. Oral care should be specifically tailored to the intended purpose.…”

“…In patients with oral disorders, such products may nevertheless be recommended for removing crusts, fungi, bacteria, food debris, and thick saliva. For that purpose, a procedure recommended by Western Norway Regional Health Authority [13] suggests cleansing with 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or NaCl 9 mg/ml [17][18][19]. However, it is not known what the long-term effect of active solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, applied frequently, may have on the oral mucosa.…”

“…However, in some countries, the use of glycerol is discouraged because it may have a desiccating rather than a moisturizing effect [18,25]. By contrast, a 17% concentration of glycerol has been recommended [19]. This solution provides good, immediate relief, but the effect disappears after a short period of time [22].…”

“…Unfortunately, pure (85%) glycerol is occasionally used, probably due to unclear procedures or a lack of knowledge [5]. If a glycerol solution is to be used, the concentrated glycerol must be mixed with water in a 1:4 ratio and applied frequently [19,22]. Some patients with dry mouth prefer products that stimulate secretion, such as lozenges and chewing gum.…”