Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Lilleby et al. 2006 [25]

USA,

2003–2005,

RCT

Age, median (range)

Treatment

Control

Myeloma

auto-HCT

Melphalan

To place one ounce of crushed ice into the mouth for 30 min before starting chemotherapy treatment and continue with the procedure for 6 h following the completion of infusion

Saline rinse

59

(51–71)

57

(33–72)

Male

16

12

Female

5

7

Gori et al. 2007 [33]

Italy,

2004–2006, Multicentre RCT

Age, median (range)

35.5

(9–59)

40

(8–66)

ALL, AML, MM CML, AA, CLL, Myelodysplasia, Thalassemia, Non-HL, Myelofibrosis,

allo-HCT,

Methotrexate-containing GvHD prophylaxis

OC applied for 60 min during infusion

No treatment

Male

32

30

Female

30

30

Svanberg et al. 2007 [26], Svanberg et al. 2010 [27]

Sweden,

2002–2004

RCT

Age, mean

SD

49.8

14.4

54.3

11.0

MM,

AML,

ALL, LYMPHOMA,

TC,

auto-HCT, allo-HCT

Melphalan BEAC,

BEAM,

Others

To start sucking ice chips or rinsing with ice cold water, concurrently with the chemotherapy infusion, and to continue until the end of session

Basic oral care

Male

26

19

Female

13

20

Salvador et al. 2012 [28]

Canada, 8 months,

RCT

Age, mean

SD

56.0

8.9

62.0

7.7

MM

auto-HCT

Melphalan

OC plus oral care (sodium bicarbonate mouthwash and gentle brushing for the teeth using sponges), In addition to the standard oral care, the patients sucked ice chips for a total of 60 min. To start procedure 5 min before infusion

Usual oral care

Male

14

12

Female

9

10

Askarifar et al. 2016 [29]

Iran, 6 months

RCT

Age, Mean (range)

39.8

(21–62)

43

(19–66)

HL, Non-HL,

MM

auto-HCT

CEAM

The ice cubes placed into the patients’ mouth for 5 min before, during and after each chemotherapy dose. To keep it as long as the patient can tolerate it and a maximum of 20 min break allowance

Saline Rinse

Male

8

9

Female

5

7

Marchesi et al. 2016 [30]

Italy,

2013–2016,

RCT

Age, median (range)

58

(42–69)

56

(38–72)

MM

auto-HCT

Melphalan

To place ice chips into the mouth for 15–30 min before starting chemotherapy treatment and continue with the procedure for 6 h following the completion of infusion

No treatment

Male

26

20

Female

10

16

Kamsvag et al. 2020 [32]

Sweden,

2012- 2016

RCT

Age, < 7 years

 ≥ 7 years

4

(22)

7

(16)

ALL, AML, LH, SAA, FA, SCD CML, EWS, DS, Lymphoma, MS Neuroblastoma, Thalassemia,

auto-HCT, allo-HCT

Busulfan, Fludarabine, Melphalan, Others

To place ice chips into the mouth during chemotherapy infusion with an intended time of ≥ 30 min

Routine oral care

Male

15

11

Female

11

12

Lu et al. 2020 [31]

China,

2017–2018,

RCT

Age, median (range)

34

(19–62)

35.7

(19–54)

Leukaemia, Lymphoma, MDS, AA

allo-HCT

Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide

Arm A: cryotherapy from the beginning of conditioning regimen infusion until the end. Arm B: From the midpoint of conditioning regimen infusion until the end. Arm C: included as part of daily nursing practice: ice cubes applied for fifteen minutes twice a day during the period of conditioning

Arm D: usual oral care

Male

26

20

Female

12

16