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Oral Care Interventions in PEG-Fed Palliative Care Patients

Effects of Oral Care Interventions on Oral Mucosal Integrity in Palliative Care Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition Via Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Three-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07792473
Acronym
PEG-ORAL
Enrollment
60
Registered
2026-08-28
Start date
2026-09-07
Completion date
2027-03-01
Last updated
2026-09-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Oral Mucosal Integrity, Palliative Care, PEG Feeding

Keywords

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy, Enteral Nutrition, Palliative Care, Oral Care, Oral Mucosal Integrity, Ankaferd Hemostat, Benzydamine Hydrochloride, Methylprednisolone, Ceftriaxone

Brief 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.

Detailed description

Patients receiving enteral nutrition through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube may experience oral health problems because of reduced oral intake, underlying disease, functional limitations, and dependence on oral care. Maintaining oral mucosal integrity is therefore an important component of nursing care in palliative care settings. This pilot study will evaluate and compare three oral care interventions used in clinical practice in PEG-fed palliative care patients. The study will focus on changes in oral mucosal integrity, including erythema and ulceration. The findings will provide preliminary information on the effects of these interventions and may help inform the design of a future larger randomized controlled trial.

Interventions

DRUGAnkaferd 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.

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.

DRUGCombined 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

University of Yalova
Lead SponsorOTHER
Yalova training and research hospital
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three parallel oral care intervention groups and will remain in their assigned group throughout the 15-day study period.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Aged 18 years or older Hospitalized in the palliative care unit Receiving enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and expected to continue PEG feeding during the study follow-up period Able to undergo baseline oral cavity assessment No clinical condition preventing the planned oral care intervention No known allergy or hypersensitivity to the components of the assigned oral care intervention Written informed consent provided by the patient or legally authorized representative

Exclusion criteria

Active severe bleeding in the oral cavity Extensive traumatic or surgical lesions in the oral cavity that prevent implementation of the oral care intervention Severe oral mucositis or oral tissue necrosis that prevents implementation of the intervention Uncontrolled bleeding risk or clinically significant coagulopathy Terminal agitation or clinical instability that prevents safe implementation of oral care Development of a clinical condition during follow-up that requires discontinuation of the assigned oral care intervention

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) ScoreBaseline (Day 0), Day 7, and Day 15Oral mucosal integrity will be assessed using the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS), which evaluates ulceration/pseudomembrane and erythema at predefined oral sites. Ulceration is scored from 0 to 3 and erythema from 0 to 2, with higher scores indicating greater oral mucosal damage.

Contacts

CONTACTYasemin Karacan, PhD
jblacksoul@yahoo.com05327141814
CONTACTIrem Ozturk Bardak, RN
irem.ozturk@yalova.edu.tr

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 2, 2026