Pressure ulcer prevention in intensive care – a randomised control trial of two pressure‐relieving devices

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: Pressure sores are a potential complication of intensive care. Modern methods of pressure sore prevention centre around the use of pressure‐relieving devices. Few studies exist that confirm the effectiveness of these devices. This study evaluates the effectiveness of two devices, the Hill‐Rom Duo® mattress and the KCI TheraPulse®. High‐risk patients were randomly assigned to receive one of two devices. We excluded those patients who had pressure sores upon admission. Those patients that did develop a pressure sore had their wound digitally photographed and graded by two independent tissue viability nurses. Sixty‐two patients were included (30 TheraPulse® , 32 Duo®). Nine developed a pressure sore (6 Duo®, 3 TheraPulse®). No statistical differences between the two devices could be found. The longer a patient was nursed on a device, the greater the risk of pressure sore development. Despite the use of these devices, pressure sores can still develop in the Intensive Care patient population.