Beds, overlays and mattresses for treating pressure ulcers

The use of pressure-relieving devices (beds, mattresses and overlays) for the prevention of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care.

Over the past year members of the Tissue Viability Society have been involved in helping the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) develop a new guideline on the use of pressure-relieving devices in pressure ulcer prevention. This article presents this guideline, its evidence base and the development process. Given that the guideline has been subject to NICE stakeholder review it ha...

Randomised, controlled trial of alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays for the prevention of pressure ulcers: PRESSURE (pressure relieving support surfaces) trial.

OBJECTIVE To compare whether differences exist between alternating pressure overlays and alternating pressure mattresses in the development of new pressure ulcers, healing of existing pressure ulcers, and patient acceptability. DESIGN Pragmatic, open, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. SETTING 11 hospitals in six NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS 1972 people admitted to hospital as acute or...

Review: Foam-based, constant low-pressure mattresses are better than standard hospital mattresses for reducing pressure ulcers.

Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers.

BACKGROUND Pressure ulcers are defined as areas "of localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear, friction and/or the combination of these". Electromagnetic therapy (EMT), in which electrodes produce an electromagnetic field across the wound, may improve healing of chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of EMT on the healing of...

Alginate dressings for treating pressure ulcers.

BACKGROUND Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, decubitus ulcers and pressure injuries, are localised areas of injury to the skin or the underlying tissue, or both. Dressings are widely used to treat pressure ulcers and there are many options to choose from including alginate dressings. A clear and current overview of current evidence is required to facilitate decision-making regarding dres...