Emergency Medicine Abstracts
Skin interface pressure on the NATO litter - Poster Abstracts - canvas stretcher - Author AbstractE Bridges Purpose: To determine if padding on the NATO litter and body position affect the peak skin interface pressure and body area exposed to interface pressures >30 m Hg. Background/Significance: In military, humanitarian, or aeromedical evacuation (AE) operations, the NATO Litter, which is a canvas stretcher, is the transport surface, bed, and operating table. Little was known about the interface pressure on the litter; a risk factor for pressure ulcers. Methods: A repeated-measures/ modified Latin square design was used. Independent variables were 4 support surfaces--litter, litter plus double-folded military wool blanket, litter plus AE mattress, and a Maxifloat[TM] mattress--and 3 positions: supine with 0[degrees] backrest, supine with 40[degrees] backrest, and 30[degrees] lateral position with 0[degrees] backrest. Dependent variables: peak interface pressure--highest pressure over each body region (eg, occiput) and surface area exposed to interface pressure >30 mm Hg. Interface pressure was measured noninvasively using the Xsensor[TM] System. Results: Eighteen women and 14 men, aged 18 to 55, were selected using a stratified sampling scheme. Peak pressures progressively decreased for all body areas between the litter, litter plus AE mattress and Maxifioat (RANOVA P<.01). Peak pressures on the litter and the litter plus blanket were not significantly different. The AE mattress significantly decreased pressures for all body regions in all positions, although peak pressures were >30 mm Hg. Conclusions: Peak pressures on the litter exceeded 30 mm Hg--a risk for pressure ulcers. The blanket did not decrease peak pressure on any body region in any position and should not be considered a pressure reduction measure. If feasible, the AE mattress, which decreased pressure, should be used for high-risk patients. Regardless of the surface preventive nursing interventions are necessary, particularly for the heels. Funding: Funded by the TriService Nursing Research Program.
COPYRIGHT 2003 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group
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