Purpose: To determine if a foam septum protector prevents nasal injury in preterm infants receiving nasal heated humidified oxygen.
Design: A retrospective before and after comparative design was used.
Sample: Medical records of 101 preterm infants receiving either nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) were reviewed; 50 were in the control group and 51 were in the intervention group that had the NeoSeal septum protector applied. The groups were not different in terms of gender, birth weight, gestational age, days intubated, or on days on NCPAP/NIPPV. Skin condition of nares was scored daily using the Neonatal Skin Risk Assessment Scale (NSRAS).
Results: Infants who had the NeoSeal applied had significantly less nasal injuries, OR = 4.08; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22-9.59; p = .01. The best predictors of nasal injury were gestational age and whether the NeoSeal was applied or not.