Use of a Shear Reduction Surface for Prehospital Transport: A Randomized Crossover Study.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of an antishear mattress overlay (ASMO) with a standard ambulance stretcher surface in reducing pressure and shear and increasing patient comfort.

Methods: In this randomized, crossover design, adults in three body mass index categories served as their own controls. Pressure/shear sensors were applied to the sacrum, ischial tuberosity, and heel.

A Retrospective, Descriptive Analysis of Hospital-acquired Deep Tissue Injuries.

Unlabelled: Preventing, identifying, and treating deep tissue injury (DTI) remains a challenge.

Purpose: The purpose of the current research was to describe the characteristics of DTIs and patient/care variables that may affect their development and outcomes at the time of hospital discharge.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, single-site cohort study of electronic medical records was conducted between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2012, to identify common demographic, intrinsic (eg, mobility status, medical comorbidities, and incontinence), extrinsic (ie, surgical and procedural events, medical devices, head-of-bed elevation), and care and treatment factors related to outcomes of hospital-acquired DTIs; additional data points related to DTI development or descriptive of the sample (Braden Scale scores and subscale scores, hospital length of stay [LOS], intensive care unit [ICU] LOS, days from admission to DTI, time in the operating room, serum albumin levels, support surfaces/specialty beds, and DTI locations) also were retrieved.

Combined negative pressure wound therapy and ultrasonic MIST therapy for open surgical wounds: a case series.

Background: Surgical wounds are at increased risk of infection when left open to heal through secondary intention; they increase length of hospital stay, hospital costs, readmission rates, and patient morbidity. New technologies and methods of treating acute and chronic wounds are emerging. Two recent developments for the treatment of open wounds are noncontact low-frequency ultrasound (NCLFU) treatment and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).