Use of polyurethane foam to prevent continuous electroencephalography-induced pressure injuries in children

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Patient Safety
• Neurology

Background:

• Continuous electroencephalography (CEEG) monitoring is vital for diagnosing neurological conditions in pediatric patients.
• CEEG can lead to pressure injuries (PIs), particularly on the forehead and back of the head, due to prolonged electrode placement.
• Effective strategies for preventing CEEG-induced PIs are limited, posing a risk to patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of using polyurethane foam as a protective barrier between CEEG electrodes and the skin.
• To determine if this intervention can prevent pressure injuries in pediatric patients undergoing CEEG.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study compared pediatric patients undergoing CEEG with and without polyurethane foam padding.
• The polyurethane group had foam padding placed on the forehead and/or back of the head.
• The primary outcome measured was the pressure injury prevention rate in the polyurethane group.

Main Results:

• The study included 77 patients in the non-polyurethane group and 65 in the polyurethane group.
• The incidence of PIs was significantly lower in the polyurethane group (1.5%) compared to the non-polyurethane group (6.5%).
• The PI prevention rate in the polyurethane group was 77%.

Conclusions:

• Placing polyurethane foam during CEEG effectively prevents CEEG-induced pressure injuries in pediatric patients.
• This simple and inexpensive method is easily implementable in various healthcare settings.
• The findings suggest a valuable, low-cost intervention for enhancing patient safety during CEEG monitoring.