RNSystematic ReviewRevista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P2025

Prophylactic dressings for preventing nasal pressure ulcer in premature newborns: an effectiveness review.

Cibelle Mello Viero, Paulo Jorge Pereira Alves, Oclaris Lopes Munhoz and 6 others

PMID 41328728

WHAT IT FOUND

Hydrocolloid dressings and 1.8 mm silicone gel sheets appear to reduce nasal pressure ulcers in preterm newborns using CPAP or non-invasive ventilation, compared with no dressing or routine care.

Evidence quality is low, so monitor skin closely.

Key findings

01Hydrocolloid dressings reduced nasal pressure ulcer risk compared with no intervention in the network meta-analysis (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38, 0.93).

021.8 mm silicone gel sheets reduced nasal pressure ulcer risk compared with no intervention (RR 0.29; 95% CI 0.09, 0.85).

03The certainty of evidence for nasal pressure ulcer prevention was rated low.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs

Read the rest of this summary

You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.

Already have one?

What it does not show

The network meta-analysis was restricted to preterm newborns, although the review planned to include newborns in general. Six studies were missing data needed for extraction, and only one author supplied the requested results. Randomized trials could not blind the person applying the dressing, and several did not report adequate randomization or allocation concealment. Observational studies had inconsistent results and incomplete follow-up or confounding issues. Dressings and comparators were heterogeneous, so direct comparisons across materials were limited. The certainty of evidence was low.

The easy way to misread this

Do not conclude that any prophylactic dressing prevents nasal pressure ulcers in all newborns. The network meta-analysis was limited to preterm newborns, and the certainty of evidence was low.

Read it on PubMed →