Water based lubricants moisturizers ?

RNperdiem, RN · Jun 10, 2014

A dab of regular skin moisturizer works better than lube for lips.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 10, 2014

Petroleum based products are contraindicated with oxygen tubing systems.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 10, 2014

Petroleum based products are contraindicated with oxygen tubing systems.

Oxygen tubing systems are petroleum based.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

We have a pulmonologist who routinely orders Vaseline to the lips of our ventilator patients. Not only the lips, but he wants it rubbed around the nose, too. I know why people say it is contraindicated, but personally, I have never had a patient's lips burst into flames before. Now that we have newer types of tube holders that make it easier on the lips and/or mucous membranes, it isn't such a big deal anymore; the newer holders do not break down the lips nearly as much. We have also used Blistex ointment around the mouth and nose for people on oxygen. I agree lotion works well, too, and all of our patients receive a stick-type lip balm in their admit packet.

shermrn · Jun 11, 2014

Petroleum based products are contraindicated with oxygen tubing systems.

Interesting. Are you saying the tubing could potentially react with the petroleum based product and that is the reason petroleum based products are contraindicated? I always figured it was the potential fire hazard of the petroleum based product and the oxygen that was the reason for the contraindication. Now you suggest the actual tubing should not come in contact with the petroleum based product.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

My understanding (and I don't have a source, sorry) is that the tubing material itself can break down due to contact with petroleum products. I know that's the case with Mic-Key g-tubes. Kind of like how you shouldn't use petroleum-based lubricants with most condoms.

If I have time later, I'll do some digging and see if I can find a reputable source. If someone else has time before then, please post your results (or even lack of results)!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2014

Do not use oil, grease or petroleum-based products on the equipment. These materials are highly flammable and will burn readily with the presence of oxygen.

It is because IF there would be a fire the petroleum would further support combustion. The use of Vaseline may plug nasal cannula prongs and reduce delivery. There has been some anecdotal reports in OR petroleum jelly can cause a gas that when combined with oxygen can become very combustible, and then a spark can cause a flame. It is usually associated with high pressure oxygen rather than the low pressure related to cylinders and concentrators. This was also more an issue when smoking was allowed in patient rooms.

My husband is an aeronautical engineer.... He states that LOX(liquid oxygen) can cause a fire with petroleum. He said dropping a few drops of LOX on a blob of petroleum based grease caused an explosion. They would not let people into the altitude chamber with lip stick, chapstick, or any other petroleum based product on the face because they used 100% oxygen in the chamber via the face mask. He said the local partial pressure of oxygen gets above 23%, things start to get a little scary because things can start to burn. It is really amazing to me that we have the right 19% in the atmosphere to have life but not more which could cause a lot of stuff to start burning.

There are also reports of developing pneumonia (Lipo-pneumonia) when lipids enter the bronchial tree. Lipid pneumonia or lipoid pneumonia is a specific form of lung inflammation that develops when lipids enter the bronchial tree. Lipoid pneumonia | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org

RebeNurse · Jun 12, 2014

Burt's bees makes lip balm without petroleum.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 13, 2014

The petroleum jelly/oxygen fear is actually a myth, probably best described in the article "Dispelling the Petroleum Jelly Myth" which appeared in the American Journal of Nursing in '98 Dispelling the Petroleum Jelly Myth : AJN The American Journal of Nursing (login required).

It seems to have originated with a NFPA committee on gas delivery systems warning on the use of grease on oxygen delivery equipment fittings, which for some reason was interpreted as referring to the use of petrolatum in or around the nose of those receiving oxygen by cannula. The same committee later changed their wording to but the myth was already born.

Petroleum jelly, aka petrolatum, aka Vaseline is derived from petroleum and is potentially combustible. The oxygen cannula itself is also derived from petroleum and is also potentially combustible, and at about the same temperature as Vaseline. There are non-petrolatum based protectants, often referred to as non-greasy which still contain other combustible ingredients including petroleum products. Even non-petroleum derived products (ie Burts Bees) include various natural oils, all of which are combustible. Even water based skin protectants are combustible, particularly once the water in it evaporates.

You're not really avoiding the theoretical problem by not using any skin protectants either, since your body's natural oils are also combustible.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 14, 2014

For anyone who's curious, it's easier to see the issue (or lack thereof) with vaseline with some simple experiments. Take some vaseline and put it in a non-flammable surface (so you can see if it's the vaseline or the surface that is burning). You notice you can't ignite it with a lighter, it will only melt. If you move up to a brazing torch you'll notice it will ignite but only while the torch flame remains on the vaseline, it goes out as soon as you remove the torch's flame. It will burn in combination with a combustible source, such as a cotton ball, although in that case the vaseline actually impedes the combustion of the cotton, it doesn't accelerate it. In stunts involving fire, vaseline is actually sometimes used as a skin protectant.

So basically, vaseline in the nostrils of a patient will burn if you stick a brazing torch up their nose, in which case I'd argue the problem is the brazing torch up their nose, not the vaseline.