Oral cryotherapy by Kangfuxin for prophylaxis of oral mucositis in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Oral mucositis is a common occurrence in autogeneic transplant patients, and there is currently no effective treatment method. This study aims to explore the preventive and delaying effects of oral cryotherapy by Kangfuxin (KFX) on oral mucositis in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(auto-HSCT). A randomized grouping method was employed to select 86 patients who underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the department between January 2020 and August 2023. The patients were divided into a control group (40 cases) and an experimental group (46 cases) randomly. Cold physiological saline mouthwash was used for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis in the control group, with intermittent rinsing during chemotherapy drug infusion and throughout the chemotherapy process. The experimental group used KFX, starting 30 minutes before chemotherapy and with intermittent rinsing during chemotherapy. The two groups were compared in terms of oral mucositis grading, pain scores, and general patient conditions, and observations and records were made. Results: The results showed that the experimental group effectively prevented the occurrence of oral mucositis compared to the control group, with a higher proportion of Grade 0 oral mucositis. The proportion of Grade III-IV in the control group was 32.5%, lower than the experimental group’s 10.8%, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The experimental group had fewer days of using lidocaine mouthwash and lower pain scores, showing statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, KFX oral cryotherapy has promising prospects as a dressing for full-thickness wound healing. It has a significant effect on the oral cryotherapy of patients undergoing auto-HSCT. It effectively prevents and delays the occurrence of oral mucositis, alleviates its severity, pain, and discomfort, and improves the general patient condition.