An oral care protocol for leukemic patients with chemotherapy‐induced oral complications

Oral Health Care of Saudi Leukemic Patients

“…An oral care protocol for leukemic patients with chemotherapy-induced complications was devised by Debiase and Komives in 1983 [8]. They recommended that patients with mild mucositis should brush their teeth with a soft nylon brush and rinse with one part hydrogen peroxide in four parts saline twice daily.…”

“…If mucositis is severe, the oral cavity should be gently cleaned with gauze dipped in a solution of 5 ml of sodium bicarbonate and 500 ml of saline twice a day. Patients with mucositis should also avoid commercial mouth rinses because of their high alcohol and phenol content [8].…”

“…Oral ulcerations in myelosuppressed leukemic patients may lead to serious systemic complications because they offer an easy portal of entry for microorganisms [8]. Candidal infection is another serious consequence of the extensive antibiotic and steroid therapy that are usually prescribed for these patients.…”

Evaluation of Blood Banked Fibrin Glue versus Blood Banked Platelet Glue as a Local Hemosatic Agent and a Healing Promoter in Patients with Acute Leukemia Undergoing Tooth Extraction

“…In our study, patients were selected with platelet count not less than 50.000/mm 3 and absolute neutrophil counts not less than 1000/mm 3 to avoid the high bleeding tendency and opportunistic infections, this selection criterion followed the study of Dibiase in 1983 who stated that the aggressiveness of oral care must be compatible with the status of the patient's bone marrow. The patient's oral hygiene can be maintained if the platelet count is greater than 50,000/mm 3 and the granulocyte count is at least 1000/ mm 3 , when the platelet count is below 50,000/mm 3 , the use of floss, toothpicks, and water irrigating devices are contraindicated due to their potential for producing local trauma [14].…”