A Follow-up to Implementing a Sizing Chart for Nasal Cannula Placement to Decrease Associated Pressure Ulcers in Infants

Authors

William F. Bucher, RRT-NPS, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalFollow

Files

Description

Background

The Joint commission definition of a “Pressure Ulcer” is a broader term that includes decubitus ulcers, but also includes any ulcerations associated with pressure. In 2015, over a three-month period, the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital had five patients who developed pressure ulcers due to placement of an improper size nasal cannula being used for that patient. Infant nasal cannulas are typically classified as being for micro premature, premature, neonate, infant, and intermediate infant size patients. To this day, there is no instruction by most manufactures for fitting a nasal cannula to the actual size of the patient in kilograms. Also, cannulas are not of a universal size from various manufacturers.

Publication Date

8-22-2024

Keywords

infants, nasal cannula, pressure ulcers

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics | Pulmonology

Comments

Presented at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Congress 2024.

Recommended Citation

Bucher, RRT-NPS, William F., "A Follow-up to Implementing a Sizing Chart for Nasal Cannula Placement to Decrease Associated Pressure Ulcers in Infants" (2024). Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Posters. 7.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/pulmcritcareposters/7