Air Mattresses as Prevention for Pressure Ulcer - An Interdisciplinary Overview

Abstract

Pressure Ulcers (PUs) are one of the most common medical problems in hospitalized immobile patients and elderly patients in nursing homes. PU occurs due to cell necrosis which tends to develop when a soft tissue is broken by a prominence bone or a hard surface for a long period of time. Currently available techniques and or protocols designed to prevent pressure ulcers are mainly based on the improvement of the skin- support interface and on a postural and behavioral education1. This paper surveys the literature on the pressure ulcer incidences from three different viewpoints. First view point is study of different foam as well as air mattresses. The second view point focuses on effectiveness of air mattresses based on PU incidence and contact interface pressure and blood perfusion. Third viewpoint focuses on comfort and cost effectiveness. Ten RCTs analyzed the PU incidence