Tape on VLBW infants

fergus51 · Jul 12, 2005

We use neobars for all our ETTs.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2005

We use neobars for all our ETTs.

How do you like them?

I've been trying to convince my unit to try them for YEARS. I have a couple of packs that NeoTech sent me, and they're just rotting away, unused. We do the typical moustache tape, and it's just disgusting sometimes. The tape gets so gooey and discolored, and it the baby has a lot of oral secretions (especially if they're on Pavulon), the tube sometimes just slips right through the tape. Of course, these are exactly the types of kids you are least willing to retape because they're so sick. Or if the tape job is really good and then the docs come and say to move the ETT up or down 1cm...it takes forever to pry off the tape.

I'm just so interested in the NeoBars!!! It looks much cleaner, and retaping looks like a snap as well. Comments?

fergus51 · Jul 12, 2005

The neobars are great Gompers. My old hospital did mostly nasal intubations, but when we did have oral ones taped with the moustache it was terrible. Like you said, they get disgusting and are a pain to retape (and you have to retape them more often). The neobars stay on remarkably well and the taping and retaping is a snap. They also make oral and skin care a lot easier because they only cover the cheeks near the ear. Plus, they stop the ETTs from putting pressure on the palate which is one of the main reasons our unit got them in the first place.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2005

Plus, they stop the ETTs from putting pressure on the palate which is one of the main reasons our unit got them in the first place.

My manager mentioned something about that a few years back, and I tried to tell her about the NeoBars and how they might help our babies' palates. She told me to talk to the respiratory department, and their manager shot me down as soon as the word "NeoBar" came out of my mouth. I think she assumes kids will self-extubate more often, but I actually think the opposite will be true. They don't like change here.

We always do oral intubations, but if they're going to continue using the moustache taping method, maybe they should think about using nasal intubations, at least on the big PFC babies on Pavulon or the big BPD kids whose tubes are always all over the place.

:uhoh3:

fergus51 · Jul 12, 2005

Kids don't self-extubate more with neobars in my experience. I actually find the opposite to be true. I can sympathize with being on a unit where people are resistant to change. Ours is notorious for that and some things we do really bother me....

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jul 12, 2005

I don't know the deal with Neo-Bars on our unit. I think all we have are some samples that get sent to the unit off and on. When we do use them it's on really slobbery kids and generally on the bigger chronic kids. We used them exclusively on one specific child because that's the only way we could keep this child intubated. I love them when we get to use them, oral care so much easier, so easy to yankeur out that slobbery mouth, also easier to get a pacifier (all cut up as it may be) into the baby's mouth, which they love.

sunnysideup09 · Sep 28, 2005

I love the Neobars! It is difficult at times to institute change, but sometimes you have to come from a different persepctive. There are decreased extubations and the product is skin friendly...hydrocolloid is recommended by the NANN skin guidelines. For all the NICUs out there using tape, why are they not utilizing the recommended guidelines?

If your hospital has qualms about using the Neobar, the company will send someone to your facility to help train on proper use.

Christine, RNC, BSN

I don't know the deal with Neo-Bars on our unit. I think all we have are some samples that get sent to the unit off and on. When we do use them it's on really slobbery kids and generally on the bigger chronic kids. We used them exclusively on one specific child because that's the only way we could keep this child intubated. I love them when we get to use them, oral care so much easier, so easy to yankeur out that slobbery mouth, also easier to get a pacifier (all cut up as it may be) into the baby's mouth, which they love.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Sep 29, 2005

We love them too, but we only get them as a "treat" because they are expensive. Huh, I am sick of that excuse for everything...then make it a charge item!