Author(s)

Monica Pilloni¹, Pierina Zedda², Carla Orrù³, Elena Fassina⁴, Maria Carmela Forte⁵, Rossana Mazzulla⁶, Brunella Celestino⁷, Maria Francesca Marotto¹, Manuela Neri⁸, Gian Benedetto Melis⁹, Anna Maria Paoletti⁹

¹University Hospital of Cagliari (UHC), Cagliari, Italy.
²Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
³Maternal and Child Family Counselling, Quartu Sant’Elena, Cagliari, Italy.
⁴Caruso’s Medical Office, Cusago, Italy.
⁵Hospital of Castrovillari, Cosenza, Italy.
⁶Hospital of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.
⁷Maternal and Child Family Counselling, Argentano, Cosenza, Italy.
⁸Company of National Importance and High Specialization (CNIHS) Giovanni Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy.
⁹Women’s Wellness Foundation, Cagliari, Italy.

Breastfeeding is drastically decreasing over time and nipple trauma constitutes one of the most significant reasons for its discontinuation. In this context, this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and tolerability of a topical treatment device, namely Silver Cap^® (Depofarma S.P.A.), when used to prevent pain and nipple fissure formation. The medical device consists in a silver trilaminate cup to be placed on the nipple, providing physical protection and creating a moist environment. The study involved 187 women: 38 started to apply the device prior to lactation (PL group) and 149 during lactation (DL group). Aiming to collect safety and performance data, both groups were provided with questionnaires during 6 consecutive visits (120 days of follow-up). At last visit, absence of painful symptoms was reported by the 98.8% and the 100% of women in DL and PL groups, respectively. Moreover, no nipple fissures were observed and no adverse events directly correlated to use of the device were reported. According to these findings, it can be concluded that Silver Cap® is a safe and effective device for nipple pain and fissure prevention.

Silver Cap, Breastfeeding, Breast Pain, Nipple Fissures

Pilloni, M. , Zedda, P. , Orrù, C. , Fassina, E. , Carmela Forte, M. , Mazzulla, R. , Celestino, B. , Francesca Marotto, M. , Neri, M. , Benedetto Melis, G. and Maria Paoletti, A. (2023) Evaluation of the Efficacy of 99.9% Pure Silver Trilaminate Cups in the Prevention and Treatment of Nipple Pain and Fissures. Open Journal of Nursing, 13, 686-698. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2023.1310045.