DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.117

Pages: 1602-1604

Air mattress has been one of the fore-runners in patient care to prevent pressure sores. They work in the principle of distributed pressure over larger areas and providing a better interface to pressure sensitive areas. In this study we want to assess the efficacy of their air mattress not only in preventing but also in curing pressure ulcers, as compared to the standard mattresses. We went thought the 1 year hospital records of all patients prone to develop decubitus ulcers and found 57 patients who did develop them. We noted the site, size, duration and severity of the ulcer. We then classified all patients into 2 kinds groups depending on the mattress used.42 of them had the air mattress while 17 did not. Of the 42 patients with the air mattress patients 3 (7%) had a pre existing ulcer while 2 (4%) developed a new ulcer during their stay (Total 5, 11%). On the other none of the 15 patients on the standard mattress had a pre existing ulcer, but 5 (33.3%) of them developed a new ulcer during their stay. After discovery of the ulcer an immediate treatment protocol was set into place. All 5 (100%) patients with ulcers on the air mattress got full ulcer recovery while only 2 out of the 5 (40%) patients on the standard mattress recoveredThere was a significant difference both in the incidence and rate of healing of decubitus ulcers in patients using air mattresses as compared to standard mattress. We therefore recommend use of air mattress for all patients prone to ulcers and also to patients who have already developed such ulcers for speedy recovery.