[Design of a head auxiliary support device in prone position].

Abstract

Prone position ventilation (PPV) is an important protective strategy for lung ventilation, widely used in clinical practice, especially since the novel coronavirus infection pandemic. Since PPV is a non-physiological position, improper implementation and management can lead to serious adverse events such as pressure injury, facial edema, unplanned extubation and (or) reintubation, and even asphyxia. At present, preventive and protective strategies are mainly used to manage PPV-related complications in clinical practice. These strategies not only increase the workload of medical staff and the use of consumables, but also increase the medical cost of patients, further burdening patients and their families economically. To overcome the above problems, the medical staff of the department of critical care medicine of Tianjin Third Central Hospital designed a prone position head auxiliary support device and obtained a national utility model patent (patent number: ZL 2022 2 1751906.3). The device consists of annular plate, folding plate, support frame, reflector and wheel bodies. It serves to reduce pressure on the head and facial skin, while also exposing the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears to the hollow position of the annular plate according to the patient's position. At the same time, the patient's face or side skin can be observed through the lower reflector. The height of the annular plate was adjusted by adjusting the support frame, and the head was raised to reduce facial edema. The setting of strip groove, through hole and hook can sort out the facial pipeline, keep the drainage unobstructed, prevent catheter displacement and unplanned extubation, and has certain clinical promotion and practical value.