Hi! I'd like to know what other NICUs do to protect the nasal septum from breakdown when using nasal prongs for cpap or nasal cannula. Our current practice is to cut a strip of Replicare ( hydrocolloid) and apply it from just above the lip to above the tip of the nose. We change it once a shift and have had very good success with it. Now our head respiratory therapist doesn't like it because the RTs can't assess the skin underneath it. Any thoughts?
NICU Guy, BSN, RN 4,103 Posts Specializes in NICU. Has 8 years experience. May 13, 2017 We use Comfeel Plus Transparent. Make a "T" that goes on the top lip and up the septum. It protects against breakdown very well. Our RTs are the ones that started using it to protest the septum.
vintage_RN, BSN, RN 717 Posts Specializes in NICU. Has 9 years experience. May 15, 2017 We use these special things called "cannulaides" which is like a strip of material that feels like hydrocolloid but it has the shape and holes for the nares
NICURN29 188 Posts Specializes in NICU. Has 11 years experience. May 15, 2017 We also use Cannulaide.Cannulaide - Infant Nasal by Mercury Medical | Medline Industries, Inc.
essT 101 Posts Specializes in NICU. Has 5 years experience. May 16, 2017 For bubble CPAP, we "DIY" our own cannulaides with Duoderm and sticky velcro. They are changed at least q12hr. We only use cannulas on babies who are 40+ weeks with mature skin, so they don't typically require a barrier.
