Nursing care for patients with laryngeal cancer: An Integrative Review

Objective: The objective of this research is to map scientific evidence on nursing care for patients with laryngeal cancer.Method:This is an Integrative Literature Review, in which seven articles published between 2007 and 2017 were analyzed. For data analysis, the content analysis technique was used.Results: The findings were categorized into 1) Laryngeal cancer prevention - new perspectives and challenges for nursing; 2) Nursing care for patients with laryngeal cancer; 3) Nursing interventions in the communication of laryngectomized patients; 4) Nursing care with pre and postoperative laryngectomy and prevention of pharyngocutaneous fistulas. Preventive, curative and palliative actions are highlighted, through assessments and dressings of the surgical wound, removal of necrotic tissue, care with tubes, late oral feeding to reduce fistula formation and postoperative care, in order to avoid complications and thus reduce the risk of infections, length of stay, hospital expenses and improved quality of life, among other precautions. Conclusion:Preventive actions based on the epidemiological profile of illness are essential to reduce the number of cases and deaths, as well as the early diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. Nursing monitors the entire process from diagnosis, hospital stay, submission to treatments and after all that, rehabilitation and readaptation to a new condition.