MuGard, an oral mucoadhesive hydrogel, reduces the signs and symptoms of oral mucositis in patients with lichen planus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if MuGard, a mouthwash shown to reduce the severity of oral mucositis when started before initiating antineoplastic therapy for head and neck cancers, is effective when painful, oral lesions are present in patients with biopsy-proven erosive oral lichen planus. STUDY DESIGN: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study at a college of dental medicine. Twenty patients with oral lichen planus were randomly assigned to receive either MuGard (n = 10) or saline-bicarbonate control (n = 10). One teaspoonful of the assigned mouthwash was swished for 1 minute, 5 times a day, for 14 days. Outcome measures (Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale scores and visual analog scale pain scores) were obtained before the start of treatment and repeated on days 2, 7, and 14. RESULTS: Significant reductions in all outcome measures occurred in the MuGard-treated group. Number-needed-to-treat (NNT) to achieve a >50% reduction in averaged pain from baseline was 1.25, and to obtain complete relief, the NNT was 2.5. CONCLUSIONS: MuGard significantly reduces pain and ulceration associated with oral mucositis in patients with lichen planus.

Chemotherapy extravasations: prevention, identification, management, and documentation.

The nurses' role in safe and effective practice of chemotherapy administration is paramount. The purpose of this article is to present nurses administering chemotherapy with evidence-based information useful in eliminating or reducing the severity of an injury from a chemotherapy extravasation. Nurse education is essential to prevent, recognize, manage, and document chemotherapy extravasations. The classification of the cytotoxic drug and its mechanism of action is useful when selecting the IV access device and also will direct the nurse's intervention to manage the injury. The Oncology Nursing Society's Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice and the drug manufacturer are the best sources offering pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic recommendations. The nurse's best ally in the prevention, prompt recognition, and management of an extravasation is the educated patient. Documenting chemotherapy extravasation is another important step to guide the treatment plan; therefore, the document must provide complete details and the extent of the event.