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Another way to prevent bedsores

The Fallbrook Village News recently published an article concerning bedsores and the financial risk to health care facilities because of them. Bed sores, or decubitus ulcers, are serious medical conditions that can lead to the death of the patient, which is what happened to actor Christopher Reeve (Superman) in 2004.

In many cases, incontinence of the patient promotes a bed sore. The medical device featured in the article takes the approach of introducing air, or oxygen, right to the affected area, to assist healing. A device such as this, one that can prevent or help heal the sore, is obviously very beneficial for the patient. However, the article makes no mention of the predominate “device” for bed sore prevention or treatment: the therapeutic alternating-pressure air mattress.

Alternating-pressure air mattresses have been available for many years, and from multiple manufacturers. The basic concept is simple: make a mattress from many individual inflatable air sacks, which are the width of the bed, from patient’s head to feet. Then connect these air sacks to two air supply hoses, one hose supplying the air sacks numbered 1,3,5... while the other hose supplies those numbered 2,4,6...

An air pump with controllable valves then directs air to only the odd-numbered air sacks for a period of time, then inflates the even-numbered air sacks while allowing air to escape from the odd-numbered group. This back-and-forth inflating and deflating is continued automatically, often under the control of a microprocessor.

The beneficial effect is that the patient is never supported at any part of their body continuously, even if the patient is not in a condition to move on their own. As the air pressure is released on one group of air sacks, the force against the patient’s skin is completely relieved, allowing unrestricted blood flow, and in some cases, ventilation for drying.

A further benefit is the avoidance of capillary occlusion, which happens when the pressure against the patient chokes off blood flow, occurring especially where bones are close to the skin. This will lead to cells in that area dying, so air pressure sensors are often used to ensure the patient is supported safely, by limiting the pressure.

Many variations and enhancements are available beyond the basic air mattress described here, including the industry-common low air-loss arrangement, or our patented method of introducing air to the top sheet which the patient lays on. These techniques have the aim of drying the patient’s skin.

KAP Medical in Corona, the company which I represent, supplies medical device distributors with air mattress systems manufactured right here in California, many being supplied to major hospitals and other treatment facilities world-wide.

David Lewis, a Fallbrook resident, is co-owner of KAP Medical.

 

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