Preoperative oral care by a dentist may help reduce postoperative complications in patients who undergo cancer surgery, according to a new British Journal of Surgery study.
Photo by Yingpis Kalayom on Unsplash
Of 509,179 patients studied, 16% received preoperative oral care from a dentist. When a surgeon requested that a dentist provide preoperative oral care to a patient with cancer, the dentist checked the patient's oral condition, provided professional tooth cleaning, taught the patient self-cleaning methods for the teeth, and provided any treatment needed.
In the study, 15,724 patients (3.09%) developed postoperative pneumonia and 1734 (0.34%) died within 30 days of surgery. After adjustments, preoperative oral care by a dentist was linked with a decrease in postoperative pneumonia (3.28% versus 3.76%) and death within 30 days (0.30% versus 0.42%).
"The findings could help improve strategies for the prevention of postoperative complications," the authors wrote.
Ishimaru et al. Preoperative oral care and effect on postoperative complications after major cancer surgery. Br J Surg. 2018; doi:10.1002/bjs.10915 [Article]
In the study, 15,724 patients (3.09%) developed postoperative pneumonia and 1734 (0.34%) died within 30 days of surgery. After adjustments, preoperative oral care by a dentist was linked with a decrease in postoperative pneumonia (3.28% versus 3.76%) and death within 30 days (0.30% versus 0.42%).
"The findings could help improve strategies for the prevention of postoperative complications," the authors wrote.
Ishimaru et al. Preoperative oral care and effect on postoperative complications after major cancer surgery. Br J Surg. 2018; doi:10.1002/bjs.10915 [Article]
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