Here are some of the highlights of
their findings, which were published in
the Aug. 23/30, 2006, issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association
(JAMA):
Support surfaces. Support surfaces include
mattresses and added padding that
goes over them. There are several types
of “dynamic” surfaces that mechanically
change the pressure under the patient.
Some work by alternating the air pressure
in the mattress. Expensive ($30,000
per bed) air-fluidized mattresses contain
silicone-coated beads that liquefy when
air is pumped through them. Almost
all intensive-care unit beds are now
equipped with dynamic surfaces. To the
layperson, they don’t look any different,
but you may hear a motor switching on
and off .