Impact of intraoperative wound dressing on post-tracheostomy pressure injuries.

Objective: Determine the efficacy of a team-based approach to reduce tracheostomy-related skin breakdown by creating a standardized intraoperative dressing and nursing wound care protocol.

Methods: Prospective data collection of pediatric tracheostomy outcomes before and after interventions consisting of intraoperative wound dressing and standardized nursing wound care bundles.

Results: Before intervention, the incidence of skin breakdown within the first-week post-tracheostomy was 52% (13/25). Among patients who received an intraoperative wound dressing and nursing wound care bundles, the incidence of skin breakdown was reduced to 6.1% (3/49).

Conclusion: The adoption of intraoperative wound dressings and nursing wound care bundles has nearly eliminated the incidence of skin breakdown in the first week post-tracheostomy among patients 0-12 years of age.