Reporting nasal pressure injuries in neonates receiving non-invasive ventilation: a scoping review

Background/objectives: Although neonates receiving Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) for respiratory support are at risk for nasal pressure injuries, efforts to standardize reporting are limited. A scoping review was conducted to identify the reporting systems used for describing these injuries.

Subjects/methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were queried for papers reporting nasal injury with NIV usage in neonates. The primary outcome was reporting system usage.

Results: 705 titles and abstracts were screened. 40 papers met inclusion criteria. Most studies were Randomized Clinical Trials (37.5%) or cohort studies (37.5%). Most commonly, nasal injuries were reported using a unique, descriptive scale developed by the authors (10 studies, 25%). The Fischer et al 2010 scale, a three-stage reporting system, was used in 8 studies (20%). While 15 studies (38.0%) reported on specific anatomic subsite injury, only 2 studies (5.0%) employed endoscopy for assessment.

Conclusions: Wide heterogeneity in pressure injury reporting secondary to NIV exists across specialties, institutions, and literature.