title: A retrospective study to determine the incidence of pressure ulcers in burn patients using an alternating pressure mattress.
abstract: In immobilized patients, unrelieved pressure can create decubitus ulcers over bony prominences. Those burn patients who require prolonged bed rest, are prone to the development of such problems. Various methods of reducing pressure on these areas, including frequent turning and the use of air fluidized and low air loss beds, have been adopted to attempt to prevent the development of this complication. The Pegasus Renaissance alternating pressure mattress is such a device, intended to reduce the incidence of decubitus ulcers. It was introduced at our burn unit and evaluated over a 29-month period. During the study period, 186 (13.4%) of 1390 acutely burned patients, believed to be at high risk for the development of decubiti, were placed on this mattress. Other patients were treated in the standard hospital bed. Care was otherwise the same. No decubitus ulcers developed in any of the patients treated on the Pegasus Renaissance mattress.
authors.affiliation: Physicians' Multispecialty Group, Burn Center, Doctors Hospital Augusta, 1220 George C. Wilson Drive, P.O. Box 3726, Augusta, GA 30914-3726, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Still
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinker
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Beretta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Craft-Coffman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies