Noninvasive Ventilation Device-Related Pressure Injury In A Children'S Hospital

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) contributes to the development of pressure injury in a significant number of hospitalized patients. Pressure injuries contribute to increased length of hospital stay, pain, infection, and disfigurement. This study examined the relationship between NW use and pressure injuries in hospitalized subjects. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients on NIV at a tertiary-care children's hospital over a 2-y period. We studied the relationship between the characteristics of NW use and measures of pressure injury severity. RESULTS: A total of 255 subjects, mean +/- SD age 11.3 +/- 5.8 y with 343 episodes of NW use were evaluated, 7.2% (25/343) of which were associated with pressure injury. In univariate analysis, the presence of pressure injury was associated with older age (P = .01), maximum leak (P = .01), 95th percentile leak (P = .01), the log duration of time on NW until pressure injury formation (P = .01), and maximum inspiratory positive airway pressure level (P = .01). Maximum leak remained statistically significant after multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: After multivariate analysis, only high mask leak was significantly associated with developing a pressure injury. Identifying risk factors that correlate with NW device-related hospital acquired pressure injuries in children can direct procedures to prevent pressure injury in hospitalized children at high risk.