Effectiveness of specialised support surface modes in preventing pressure injuries in intensive care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are at an increased risk of pressure injuries. In ICUs, specialised support surfaces are an intervention often used to prevent pressure injuries. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of different specialised support surface modes for preventing pressure injuries to adult ICU patients.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, EBSCO CINAHL, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov and eligible paper references were searched for appropriate studies. Studies were included if they investigated both dynamic support surface modes low-air-loss (LAL) and alternating pressure (AP), involved adult ICU patients (≥18 years old), and investigated pressure injury incidence. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklists were used for reporting and quality assessment. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs) were used to summarise pressure injury incidence. The pooled RR was calculated with the random-effects model using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Further secondary analysis examined length of stay (LoS) and severity of illness.

Results

The four included studies involved 3,308 patients. These studies were heterogeneous in design. When AP surface mode was compared with LAL surface mode, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of pressure injury (8.9 % versus 10.9 %, RR 0.64). Mattress mode also had no direct association with length of stay and severity of illness.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis found no significant difference in the effectiveness of LAL and AP support surface modes in preventing pressure injuries in adult ICU patients.

Implications for clinical practice

Clinicians should remember that mattresses are just one element within strategies to prevent pressure injuries in ICUs. The equivocal findings of this systematic review highlight the complexity of preventing pressure injuries and underscore the importance of holistic nursing care.