Oral Care Interventions in PEG-Fed Palliative Care Patients

Summary

This pilot randomized controlled trial will compare three oral care interventions in adult palliative care patients who receive enteral nutrition through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. The purpose of the study is to determine how these oral care interventions affect the health and integrity of the oral mucosa.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: oral care with Ankaferd Hemostat, benzydamine hydrochloride, or a combined solution containing methylprednisolone, ceftriaxone, and sodium bicarbonate. Oral care will be provided by trained nurses according to a standardized protocol.

Participants' mouths will be assessed at the beginning of the study and on days 7 and 15. These assessments will include examination of the oral mucosa and standardized photographs of the mouth. Relevant clinical and laboratory information available as part of routine patient care will also be recorded. The findings will be used to compare changes in oral mucosal health among the three groups.

Conditions

• Oral Mucosal Integrity
• Palliative Care
• PEG Feeding

Interventions

DRUG

Ankaferd Hemostat

Ankaferd Hemostat will be used as a topical oral care intervention. For each application, 1 mL of Ankaferd Hemostat will be mixed with 4 mL of sterile water to obtain a total volume of 5 mL. The prepared solution will be applied to the oral mucosal surfaces by a trained nurse twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, for 15 days. The solution will not be swallowed.

DRUG

Benzydamine Hydrochloride 0.15% w/v oromucosal solution

Benzydamine hydrochloride 0.15% will be used as a topical oral care intervention. The solution will be applied to the oral mucosal surfaces by trained nurses twice daily for 15 days. Because participants receive enteral nutrition through PEG and may have an increased risk of aspiration, the solution will not be used as a gargle and will not be swallowed.

DRUG

Combined Oral Care Solution

A combined oral care solution containing 40 mg methylprednisolone, 1000 mg ceftriaxone, and 0.84 g sodium bicarbonate will be used as a topical oral care intervention. Ceftriaxone will be diluted with 10 mL normal saline, methylprednisolone with 5 mL normal saline, and sodium bicarbonate will be added to obtain a final volume of 25 mL. The prepared solution will be applied to the oral mucosal surfaces by trained nurses twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart, for 15 days. The solution will not be swallowed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yalova training and research hospital

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Yalova

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-07

Primary Completion

2027-02-28

Completion

2027-03-31