As a nurse, the potential that Mackey Mask has of preventing incidental NGT dislodgment, is a huge win for a bedside nurse or at-home caregiver. A product that provides the ability of securing the tube without an abrasive adhesive or suturing through the nasal septum is currently unavailable on the market. Mackey Mask allows for a kinder and gentler level of stability, to keep a critical medical device in place, while decreasing the number of NGT reinsertions and risk of skin and mucosal membrane injury that often occur from extended NGT use.

As a pediatrician, I have encountered countless patients requiring NG tubes of all ages. Of these patients, the youngest ones can have some of the most difficult complications. When I was introduced to the Mackey Mask, I immediately thought about how impactful it would be for families and caregivers. It’s an intelligent design but also easy to use- something that is so important for patients that transition to home, but with NG tube care for extended periods. Pediatric NG tube care is notoriously difficult and the Mackey Mask fills a very important need.

As a speech language pathologist, I have worked with many families and their babies who rely on NG tubes to help their children grow safely. Infant feeding difficulties can be a scary and daunting experience for the child and the family/caregivers because of swallow safety concerns, other complicating medical diagnoses that affect feeding, or due to feeding aversion. The benefits this product can bring to the medical community and our patients excite me as a feeding therapist. Taping, placement, and insertion difficulties are consistent complaints among many patients and their families. The benefits of having a product like the Mackey Mask could help decrease unnecessary irritation to the face from adhesive, keep the baby from pulling out their own tube, causing internal irritation from frequent re-insertions, and help decrease unnecessary negative associations with eating by keeping the NG tube inserted and secure.

As a NICU nurse, I have taken care of thousands of patients with NG tubes over the course of my career. When I heard about Mackey Mask, I immediately thought of my patients, their families, and the caregivers like myself who can greatly benefit from this product. Mackey Mask has the potential to completely change the way NG tubes are secured, providing a new level of comfort for patients and confidence for NG placement and stabilization.

As a pediatric ICU nurse I’ve taken care of patients of all ages that required an NG tube for a variety of reasons. Replacing, securing, and maintaining these tubes can be frustrating to care givers and uncomfortable for the patient. Adhesives can be rough on the skin and often don’t stick once exposed to moisture. The Mackey mask allows moisture to be simply wiped away, excess tubing to be secured, adjustments to be made without completely removing the tube, and most importantly it allows a child to be comfortable and have freedom to still be a kid.

The concept and development behind the Mackey Mask is incredible. As a mom, I can’t imagine the fear and frustration a parent or caregiver must feel when a child is sent home with a NG tube. As an experienced NICU nurse, sending an infant home with medical equipment creates a new level of emotional and mental stress for families. Seeing the comfort, ease, and convenience of the Mackey Mask can help eliminate such feelings. To be able to consistently protect their fragile skin, place the tube at proper depth with precision, and prevent accidental dislodgment cause by loose tape or wandering hands... this can drastically improve family’s experiences.