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Published on: November 30, 2022
Preventing facial pressure ulcers in patients under non-invasive mechanical ventilation: a randomised control trial
D Peña Otero1, D Vazquez Domínguez2, L Hernanz Fernández2
1Professor, University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón; Gregorio Marañón Healthcare Research Institute-Nursing Department (IiSGM); Centre for Health Sciences San Rafael-Antonio Nebrija University, Madrid, Spain.
Objective:
To comparatively assess the efficacy of four different therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of facial pressure ulcers (FPUs) related to the use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) with oro-nasal masks in critically ill hospitalised patients.
Method:
This randomised control trial was performed at the high dependency unit in the University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Spain. Overall, 152 patients with acute respiratory failure were recruited. All patients were hospitalised and received NIV through oro-nasal masks. The Norton tool was used to evaluate the general risk of developing pressure ulcers (PUs). Subjects were divided into four groups, each of them receiving a different treatment. Tissue assessment and preventive care were performed by a member of the research team.
Results:
The incidence of FPUs was significantly lower in the group receiving a solution of hyperoxygenated fatty acids (HOFA) when compared with each of the other therapeutic strategies: direct mask (p=0.055), adhesive thin dressing (p=0.03) and adhesive foam dressing (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
The application of HOFA on the facial skin in contact with the oro-nasal masks showed the highest efficacy in the prevention of NIV-related FPUs.
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