French Neonatal Society issues recommendations on preventing nasal injuries in preterm newborn infants during non-invasive respiratory support

Aim: To issue practical recommendations regarding the optimal care of nasal skin when non-invasive ventilation support is used.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed to identify relevant papers published in English or French through December 2019. Different grades of evidence were evaluated.

Results: Forty-eight eligible studies. The incidence in preterm infants was high. The lesions were more frequent for preterm infants born under 30 weeks of gestational age and/or below 1500 g. The lesion was most often located on the skin of the nose but could also be found on the intranasal mucous membranes or elsewhere on the face. Nasal injuries appear early after the beginning of non-invasive ventilation at a mean of 2-3 days for cutaneous lesions and eight or nine for intranasal lesions. The most effective strategies to prevent trauma are the use of a hydrocolloid at the beginning of the support ventilation, the preferential use of a mask and the rotation of ventilation interfaces.

Conclusion: Nasal injuries with continuous positive airway pressure treatment in preterm newborn infants were frequent and can induce pain, discomfort and sequelae. The immature skin of preterm newborn infants needs specific attention from trained caregivers and awareness by parents.