What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to establish clinical practice guidelines for preventing and treating gastrointestinal mucositis in cancer patients.
What They Found
They examined 251 clinical studies across 29 interventions, resulting in one new negative recommendation, two new suggestions, and one guideline change. The panel recommended against misoprostol suppositories for radiation-induced proctitis and suggested probiotics for preventing diarrhea and hyperbaric oxygen for treating radiation-induced proctitis.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian cancer patients experiencing or at risk of gastrointestinal mucositis may benefit from these updated guidelines regarding specific treatments. They should discuss these recommendations, such as the use of probiotics or hyperbaric oxygen, with their healthcare team to manage treatment side effects.
Canadian Relevance
This study does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's ability to provide definitive guidelines was limited for some interventions, such as systemic glutamine, due to conflicting or insufficient evidence.