Cuidados ao coto umbilical do recém-nascido: uma revisão integrativa

The care of the newborn’s umbilical cord requires proper surveillance and care. Throughout time, they are considered essential and there have been key changes in the provision of nursing care. Despite the existence of recommendations, namely from WHO since 1998 and from Portuguese Society of Neonatology in “Consenso clínico da Sociedade Portuguesa de Neonatologia sobre os cuidados cutâneos ao Recém-Nascido, incluindo cordão umbilical (2014)”, in Portugal newborn’s umbilical cord care practice varies between Healthcare Units and even nurses, with little consensus and standardization on the best care to be use. Objective: The aim of this integrative review is to identify which are the efficient recommendations, based on the best scientific evidence, in the care provided to the umbilical cord in order to reduce time of cord separation and infection. Evidence acquisition: PubMed and B-On search was undertaken 2 Methods: Integrative review of the literature using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) model. There were 69 articles identify, with 5 being the basis of review, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Cord separation time was significantly lower with the dry care technique compared with the use of antiseptic solutions. Dry care technique does not increase infection (omphalitis) risk when compared with the antiseptic solutions. Conclusion: In Portugal, being a developed country, dry care technique should be implemented in the newborn’s umbilical cord care practice, in order to reduce time of cord separation and infection.