Taking comprehensive intervention measures to reduce postoperative lower respiratory tract infection in patients with oral cancer

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive intervention measures in reducing postoperative lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)  in patients with oral cancer.MethodsPatients were divided into intervention group and control group, intervention group :146 patients who admitted to a hospital between September 2012 and March 2013 received comprehensive intervention measures during perioperative period for preventing postoperative LRTI; control group: 140 patients who admitted to the hospital between March and August 2012 received routine medical care, incidence of postoperative LRTI between two groups was compared.ResultsThe implementation rates of 5 intervention measures of intervention group (30° bed head elevation, oral rinse with compound chlorhexidine gargle, autoclave sterilization of head of laryngoscope used in general anaesthesia, hand hygiene before anaesthesia for endotracheal intubation, and  gentamycin inhalation) were all higher than control group (all P<0.01). Incidence of LRTI in intervention group was significantly lower than control  group (［0.68%,n=1］ vs ［5.71%,n=8］, χ2＝4.39，P＜0.05）.ConclusionThe implementation of comprehensive intervention measures can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative LRTI in patients with oral cancer.