Conditions: Post-operative Pneumonia Lung Cancer Esophageal Cancer
Keywords: Incidence of post-operative pneumonia in patients undergoing surgery for primary lung cancer or primary esophageal cancer
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 150
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Postoperative pneumonia is a major complication in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. It leads to considerable morbidity and contributes to perioperative morbidity. There is evidence in literature that supports the use of strategies for improved oral hygiene and specialized endotracheal tubes in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. This study aims at utilizing a combination of these interventions in the perioperative period in patients undergoing planned thoracic surgical procedures.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: -Toothbrushing 3 times/day for at least 5 days preoperatively using a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution arm 2: * Toothbrushing 3 times/day for at least 5 days preoperatively using a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution
* The intensive toothbrushing regimen and chlorhexidine mouthwash will be continued for the duration of the hospitalization or a minimum of 5 days postoperatively in the study group. arm 3: * Toothbrushing 3 times/day for at least 5 days preoperatively using a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution
* The intensive toothbrushing regimen and chlorhexidine mouthwash will be continued for the duration of the hospitalization or a minimum of 5 days postoperatively in the study group.

Interventions: intervention 1: 0.12% chlorhexidine solution
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Toothbrushing 3 times/day for at least 5 days preoperatively using a 0.12% chlorhexidine solution and for the duration of the hospitalization or 5 days postoperatively.

Protocol document: