A One-Year Retrospective Review Correlating Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers with Pressure Redistribution Devices Used on Patients Admitted to a General Medical Surgical Unit

Purpose: Increased tissue interface surface pressures are a greatly studied cause of pressure ulcers. Reports of viscoelastic foam use in specific clinical populations suggest these surfaces may be more effective than Group 1 devices.^{1, 2, 3} Previous  in vivo studies have shown that the Variable Pressure Foaming (VPF™) mattress with Surface Modification Technology (SMT™) offers greater average and maximum weight reductions versus other viscoelastic mattresses⁴  with a 49.2% reduction in average peak pressure.⁵  Short term clinical evaluations have been completed for these surfaces, but one year performances have not been reported.

Methodology: A one year retrospective review of 1,919 patients admitted to a general Medical-Surgical unit was conducted to correlate location and severity of hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) with the pressure redistribution surfaces provided. Data collected by month included: number of reported HAPUs, Braden Scale score on admission, stage and location of each reported HAPU, and pressure redistribution surface used for each patient.

Results: 18 patients developed 20 HAPUs (overall incidence 0.94%); 19 of the 20 ulcers were in contact with a pressure redistribution surface. Ulcers correlated to surfaces as follows: 4 in the standard hospital foam mattress group; 12 in the standard hospital foam mattress with static air overlay group;  2 in the low air loss/alternating pressure group; and 1 in the VPF/SMT mattress group*. All ulcers were either Stage I or Stage II. Braden Scale scores ranged from 9-16 with a mean of 13.2.

Conclusion:  Over a one-year period the VPF/SMT surface was more effective in preventing HAPUs than the standard hospital foam mattress with or without a static air overlay as well as low air loss/alternating pressure used for high-risk patients. Significant cost reduction may be achieved by eliminating static air overlays and other surfaces.  Further studies are warranted.

*BodyZone™ 500, FXI, Media, Pa.