Pressure
Relief Technologies
The most ancient method to avoid pressure sores is
to turn the patient in a new position periodically, day and night.
This however inconveniences both the patient and the caregiver, and,
if not done properly, adds new risk factor, such as shear forces .
Moreover, this method might not be applicable to spinal trauma or
multiple-injuries patients, to whom movement mightr be detrimental to
the healing process.
In time, several technologies have been developed
to cope with the pressure ulcer problem, creating support surfaces
whih help remove the primary causes, i.e. pressure, friction and skin
maceration.
Available technologies are shown in the following
table, together with their main characteristics.
Therapy
Type
|
Look
|
Features
|
Air Fluidized
Patient floats in a tank full of
silica microbeads made fluid by a temperature- and
humidity-controlled air flux
|
|
- Maximum therapeutic
effectiveness
- Maximum preventive
effectiveness
- For patients with high-grade ulcers
or at very high risk
- Ideal to solve skin humidity
problems
- High-tech and specialistic
- Designed for Intensive Care
- Ill-suited for home care, due to
significant weight and encumbrance.
- Not suitable for
patients with unstabilized fractures.
|
Low Air Loss
Patient lies on air sacs, which
partially deflate under its weight, thus conforming to body
contours, and releasing air from their surface, which keeps
skin dry.
|
|
- Very high therapeutic
effectiveness
- Very high preventive
effectiveness
- For patients with high-grade ulcers
or at very high risk
- Valuable alternative to air fluidized
systems
- Designed for hospital use
- Suitable for home care
|
Dynamic
Patient lies on air sacs which
cyclically inflate and deflate, so that every body part is
periodically relieved from pressure.
|
|
- High therapeutic effectiveness
- High preventive effectiveness
- Products available for every risk
factor
- Designed for hospital use
- Ideal for home care
- Not suitable for
patients with unstabilized fractures*(see note) .
|
Static
Patient lies on an inert support,
soft enough to allow for uniform weight distribution.
|
|
- Good preventive effectiveness
- Suitable for Low/medium risk
patients
- Economical
- Ideal for home care
|
* Note : Several dynamic therapy devices (including all those in
the LineaCARE range) have a static therapy setting that makes them
also suitable for ptients with fractures, taking care they are used
in static therapy mode.only.
|
