Oxygen Delivery Device-Related Pressure Injuries Can Be Prevented

FRIDAY, Oct. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A quality improvement project can result in fewer medical device-related pressure injuries attributed to oxygen delivery devices, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Critical Care Nurse.

Kaitlyn Jenae Duerst, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., from Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, and colleagues implemented a project on four adult inpatient units with 75 inpatient beds at an academic medical center in order to reduce medical device-related pressure injuries attributed to oxygen delivery devices. Patients were transitioned from an over-the-nose noninvasive ventilation mask to a single-headset, interchangeable under-the-nose and over-the-nose noninvasive ventilation mask; polyvinyl chloride nasal cannulas were replaced with a softer nasal cannula; and health care staff were educated on preventing pressure injuries.

The researchers identified one medical device-related pressure injury caused by a noninvasive ventilation mask and four injuries caused by nasal cannulas in the two months prior to implementation (September and October 2020). No pressure injuries developed in patients using the trial devices during the two months of trial implementation (November and December 2020).

"In addition to the decreased number of pressure injuries, patient feedback supported the full adoption of the trial devices," Duerst said in a statement. "Patients told the nurses that the softer nasal cannula put less pressure on their ears and that they preferred the new under-the-nose noninvasive ventilation masks versus the over-the-nose types that are the standard at most institutions."

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