The effect of air cushion bed manual alternating inflation in preventing pressure ulcers in patients receiving microneurosurgery

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of manual inflation for air cushion bed in preventing pressure ulcers in patients receiving miconeurosurgery. Methods Totally 86 patients who received microneurosurgery were selected by convenient sampling from January to June 2017 and randomized into a control group (n=43) and a treatment group (n=43) according to the random number table. Patients in both groups used inflatable air cushion for pressure ulcer prevention and routine nursing. Alternating inflation was shut down in the air cushion used in the control group, maintaining proper pressure in air cushion, while in the treatment group, in addition to routine nursing, the air cushion was manually and alternatingly inflated at the right time. After relevant training and learning, nurses collected data and made sure if the patients sustained pressure ulcers, and identified their location and stage. Results The incidence of pressure ulcers of the treatment group (11.6%) was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05) , which was 30.2%. Conclusions By manual alternating inflation, surgical patients can change their pressed parts regularly, thereby reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers significantly in the patients who received microneurosurgery. Key words: Pressure ulcer; Neurosurgery; Perioperative nursing