Effects of standardized nursing protocol on nursing quality and complications in pediatric patients with massive scalp hematoma undergoing negative pressure drainage.

Objective: To investigate the effect of standardized nursing process intervention on care quality and complications in children with large scalp hematomas treated with modified negative-pressure drainage.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in the Children's Hospital Affiliated with the Capital Institute of Pediatrics. A total of 102 children with massive scalp hematoma were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 52, with conventional nursing care) and an observation group (n = 50, with standardized nursing care). Drainage time, hematoma subsidence time, and nursing-related outcomes were compared between the two groups. Hematologic data were assessed preoperatively, and at 24 h and 72 h postoperatively.

Results: Compared to the control group, the observation group exhibited significantly shorter drainage time, hematoma resolution time, wound healing time, and hospitalization time (all P<0.05), as well as lower hospitalization cost (P<0.05). Rehabilitation outcomes were significantly improved across age groups (all P<0.05), with lower pain scores (all P<0.05), reduced complication and readmission rates (all P<0.05), higher quality-of-care scores (all P<0.05), and greater nursing satisfaction (P<0.05). At 24 h after operation, the observation group had higher levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and fibrinogen (Fib) (P<0.05), and lower levels of prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), C-reactive protein (CRP), pro-calcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell count (WBC) (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Implementation of standardized nursing processes significantly improves care quality, reduces complications, and promotes faster recovery in pediatric patients undergoing modified negative-pressure drainage for large scalp hematoma, supporting its broad application in clinical practice.