A study looking at user satisfaction found that oxygen patients experienced frequent or constant issues with dual-prong nasal cannulas, and were interested in converting to single-prong alternatives.
Introduced in 1949, dual-prong nasal cannulas have been a default solution to deliver supplemental, low-flow oxygen to respiratory patients. However, they are not problem-free. Associated issues or complications include irritation of interior nostrils; sore and irritation of upper lips; sores around ears; constriction around neck; displacement of dual prongs from nostrils; self-consciousness while wearing dual prong devices; removal of device when eating; and use of protective pads to reduce skin irritation.
A recent study, commissioned by UPODS, LLC, which makes the UNI-FLO2 cannula, surveyed 121 dual-prong nasal cannula users to track their difficulties with dual-prong options, and whether they would be more interested in a single-prong alternative.
The study showed that 67 percent of those surveyed using’ dual-prong cannulas said that their prongs became displaced; 42 percent said they needed to remove their cannula to eat or drink; 36 percent replied they felt self-conscious wearing them in public; and 35 percent felt constriction around the neck when wearing them.
After using a single-prong cannula in a clinical setting for 15 minutes, 98 percent replied that the device was more comfortable; 99 percent felt it was stable and secure; and 98 percent said they felt they’d be interested in wearing it.
“When introduced to a new human factors approach to oxygen delivery systems the patients were very interested in converting to a more comfortable, stable / secure, less invasive, less visible—ergonomic single cannula design,” wrote the study’s authors, Hugh Payton, M. D.; Campbell C. Cauthen, BSRRT; John D. Stephens; and Uday Jain. “We found that the single cannula devices provided higher statistically significant POX readings when compared to dual prong POX readings across flow rate categories within a defined patient population and across both continuous and pulse delivery type devices.”