chinstraps on ncpap

[wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP]

Hi we have always used chinstraps to close babies mouths when on cpap. This keeps the flow lower because its not lost out of their mouth when it gapes open.

There is now some discussion they are not needed and I wondered if any of you lovely people had experience with or without them.

Thanks

[Backtoyou2011]

In our unit it is protocol to utilize a chin strap with nasal cpap, unless the kiddo keeps their pressures and 'bubbles' fine without one. I personally hate the chin straps but it really does help with the seal.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I use them. It's not even debateable whether they lose the pressure through the open mouth, just put your hand up there, close the mouth, and watch the bubbles start and the sats stabilize.

[wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP]

Yeah my thoughts exactly. It just works, really can't understand why we would stop using them. I think we will end up using a much higher flow to maintain pressures.

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

I have never seen chinstraps. I am intrigued though, I HATE CPAP and SiPAP with a passion because with an active baby you can't never get a good seal and they are always getting them off or loosing pressure out the mouth.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I use the Bili-Combi bilimasks, just put the eye covers on the chin instead.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have used them, but we don't like them.

[wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP]

Bortaz thats what we used to use but now we have fp proper ones with velcro in different sizes. Nicugal why didnt you like them?

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Why not?

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

The ones we have don't seem to work well and being a county hospital we are stuck with them. We tried the bili mask thing but got reprimanded because that isn't what they are for...okayy. We have had pretty good luck with nesting and using postitional devices to kind of prop under the chin.

[KT17]

We string a few poseys together (the pulse ox covers) and wrap them around the head, but only if the kiddo seems to need it.

[NICURN29]

We make our own with coban. And we only use it if the baby isn't bubbling on bubble CPAP or if the vent is reading that the baby is not getting his or her pressure (we use the PB840 and do CPAP and BiPAP on it some of the time).