Comparative Pressure Mapping of Pediatric Support Surfaces

Abstract

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to identify the most effective pressure redistributing surface in children.DESIGN:Repeated measures design study with each participant acting as their own control.SUBJECTS AND SETTING:The sample comprised 49 infants and children; their mean age was 4.5 (SD: 5.2) months. Their average weight was 9.56 (SD: 8.6) kg. The study setting was conducted at two academic medical centers in the western United States: University of California Davis Health and University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospitals.METHODS:A pressure mapping system was used to measure interface pressures and surface areas between the surface and body of study participants. We compared pressures from a standard hospital bed, crib, or isolette surface used in the respective hospitals to a static air-inflated surface placed on top of the standard surface.RESULTS:The mean pressure for static air-filled cushions was 10.41 mmHg, with peak pressure of 22.44 mmHg, while regular cushions had a mean pressure of 12.43 mmHg and peak pressure of 34.92 mmHg. The average surface area for the static air surfaces was 140.1 sq inches and the average surface area for regular surface was 105.3 sq inches.CONCLUSIONS:Static air-filled surfaces had lower tissue interface pressures when compared to standard hospital surfaces.