title: [Quantitative assessment of pressure relief at the sacral area in adults lying supine on the operating room table].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is important to prevent development of the pressure ulcers in patients undergoing lengthy surgery, particularly at areas of skin overlying bony prominences. This study was designed to investigate distribution of the interface pressure (IP) over the body area (from the head to pelvic area) in supine adults and also evaluate the ability of a polyurethane-made cushion to reduce the IP at their sacral area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing a recently developed device to measure the IP (ERGO-CHECK, ABW Co., Germany), we evaluated distribution of the IP (estimated per 3 x 4 cm2 area) over the body area in healthy volunteers (n=31) and patients under general anesthesia (n=6) lying supine on the operating room (OR) table.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the subjects, the highest IP was generated at the sacrum; 62.5 +/- 23.8 (mean +/- SD) and 35.7 +/- 5.5 mmHg in the volunteers and patients, respectively. The polyurethane-made, "doughnut" cushion (5 cm in thickness) inserted between the pelvic area and the OR table significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the IP at the sacrum in both groups: the IPs after the insertion in the volunteers and patients were 35.1 +/- 11.1 and 25.6 +/- 6.5 mmHg, respectively. In addition, the insertion significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the high-risk area (i.e., area of IP > 32 mmHg) in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative assessment of the IP would be useful in evaluating precisely the effectiveness of various types of pillows, cushions, or mattresses designed to reduce the IP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, St. Mary's Hospital, Kurume.
authors.forename: Miyoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masatsugu
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akata
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itonaga
authors.forename: Fumiya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kansha
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
mesh_terms: D001513:Beds; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011312:Pressure; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012447:Sacrum; D016683:Supine Position