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Summary of Pressure Redistributing Surfaces:
Static Surfaces
Dynamic Surfaces
Bariatric Surfaces
Static Surfaces
| Surface |
Thick foam mattress |
| Description |
Overlay or mattress
replacement |
| Advantage |
May be difficult to clean,
may be single use |
| Disadvantage |
May be difficult to clean,
may be single use |
| Indications |
Patient is able to shift
weight, no pressure
ulcers |
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| Surface |
Water
mattress |
| Description |
Waterfilled mattress or
overlay |
| Advantage |
Re-distribution of
pressure secondary to
emersion into water
surface |
| Disadvantage |
Difficult to maintain,
heavy, difficult to
transport |
| Indications |
Patient is able to shift
weight, free of
pressure ulcers |
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| Surface |
Air
floatation
mattress |
| Description |
Inflatable plastic or
nylon mattress overlay |
| Advantage |
Inexpensive, portable,
easy to store, moderate
emersion into surface |
| Disadvantage |
Air leaks, risk of
bottoming out, require
regular monitoring |
| Indications |
Patient is able to shift
weight, no pressure
ulcers or low stage
pressure ulcer |
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| Surface |
Low air loss
mattress/
bed |
| Description |
Multiple inflated fabric
pillows, may be
attached to a bed
frame |
| Advantage |
Lightweight,
re-distribute peak
pressures via emersion
into air surface |
| Disadvantage |
Expensive, warm, risk
of bottoming out |
| Indications |
Functionally
dependent patients
with large, deep or
multiple ulcers |
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Dynamic Surfaces
| Surface |
Alternating
air pressure
mattress |
| Description |
Multiple air filled
compartments, air
pressure levels
fluctuate within
and between
compartments |
| Advantage |
Light weight,
re-distribute pressure
via emersion into air
compartments and by
alternating pressure
levels within
and between
compartments |
| Disadvantage |
Expensive, noisy,
complex to setup, risk
of bottoming out,
warm |
| Indications |
Functionally
dependent patients
with large, deep or
multiple ulcers |
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| Surface |
Air fluidized
mattress/
bed |
| Description |
Contains beads which
are fluidized by a flow
of warm pressurized
air, covered in
polyester |
| Advantage |
Feces and urine pass
through the sheet
into the beads.
Frequent turning
unnecessary |
| Disadvantage |
Very expensive and
heavy, generate heat,
causes insensible
water loss, decreases
patient mobility, noisy |
| Indications |
Functionally
dependent patients
with large, deep or
multiple ulcers |
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Bariatric Surface
| Surface |
Bariatric bed |
| Description |
For clients over 250
lbs. May be static or
dynamic |
| Advantage |
Designed to fit body
shape and weight of
bariatic population |
| Disadvantage |
Expense and
availability |
| Indications |
For patients over 250
lbs and up to 850 lbs |
Reproduced with permission. Hutchinson, B., and Orsted. H. (2003). Pressure management: Assessment, prevention,
intervention and evaluation, Skills Lab #1. Skin and Wound Assessment and Treatment, Calgary Health Region, Calgary, AB.
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