Palate protection with vented babies?

PSA, RN · Oct 4, 2003

I sure do wish they used this with my son. His palate is still just terrible. He has a tiny grove and a very high arch due to being intubated for so long. Thanks for the info. Next time I talk with my friend I am going to tell her about this so she can see if they use it in the NICU where she works.

prmenrs, RN · Oct 10, 2003

My son (former premie w/complications and several intubations) didn't get ANY teeth till 15 months, then he got 6 in ~ 5 wks! Tylenol was my drug of choice for a while there!

t2000JC · May 7, 2004

We just extubated a baby in our unit (after several times) who has been intubated about a month (with a week off somewhere in there)..and I saw a little groove in his mouth . I feel so bad because I cared for him a lot but the thing is many times when i was on we changed the tube holder (and usually to the opposite side) or the nurse prior told me she had (he had a lot of secretions so we changed when it was loose). Anyway, does this evenutally go away, or will he have to deal with this later on.. :uhoh3:

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 9, 2004

We wanted those and we were turned down because of cost...then make the stupid things a charge item! Ugh!

crankyasanoldma · May 17, 2004

I wonder if they make any difference? My son has a high arched and grooved palate form the vent, too. He is six and has slight articluation problems and no dentition problems, but I was told by his dentist to plan on a palate expander between 2nd and 3rd grade. Poor pup!

neominder · Jun 8, 2004

i have never heard of them before. and from the picture i can't really tell how they are supposed to be used. it sounds like i great idea. right now all we can do is tube position. as soon as any baby i am taking care of for any length of time is stable i take the tube all the way to the corner of his/her mouth..doesn't hit the roof, and doesn't have as much play as the center of the upper lip, plus they can suck easier then as well.

sparty11 · Jun 8, 2004

Neominder, here's a better picture of how it is used.

http://www.utahmed.com/pala-nat.htm

prmenrs, RN · Jun 8, 2004

I've always thought of it as a sort of 'retainer' device--if you had braces, you'll know what I'm talking about. I think they are a great idea--worry about crud and germs accumulating between the devise and the palate, tho...

neominder · Jun 9, 2004

thank you, now i see how they work. very good idea...the only thing i worry abour it how often would you have to remove/ clean this device? i would also worry about secretions being trapped under and becoming a breeding ground.

NoCrumping · Oct 30, 2004

This is the first I am hearing of any such device..... but it is REALLY needed... i do private duty for an ex micropreemie, she has a very high arch with grooves... with a very mean gag because of it... so sensitive, she cant eat po , mouths her fingers and gags continuously.....and it is not improving. needless to say, this is not her only concern. another quasi success story from a nicu

travelingtweety · Nov 6, 2004

We used them a few years ago. You have to untape the ETT tube to clean them every few days (per manufact. recommend.). We had many accidental extubations and stopped using them.

Kerrirn · Nov 11, 2004

Has anyone seen the silicone palate protector that Utah Med makes? Have you ever used this in your unit? If so, how do you like it?
We used a palate protector at my previous hospital. Not the Utah brand and I can't remember which it was:rolleyes: It was shaped more like a half of a super ball and slipped around the tube and then secured to the upper lip. It could be inserted any time after intubation and worked well. There were initial problems with the adhesive coming off the lip and accidental extubation, but these were improved by the manufacturer. We had a large population of 23-24 weekers and there did seem to be a decreased incidence of palate deformaties with the protectors. There is a follow-up study being done in the developmental clinic about long term results, I'll let you know!