Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a difference in interface pressures for patients using continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT) without pillow repositioning compared with interface pressures for the same patients on CLRT with pillow repositioning.
DESIGN: Quasi-experimental.
SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Six critically ill but stable patients (4 female and 2 male, aged 20 to 86 years) in medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care units in a large urban, tertiary care hospital in the southwestern United States were investigated.
INSTRUMENTS: Tissue interface mapping was completed using Xsensor cushions or full-body mats.
METHODS: Tissue interface pressures were measured with and without pillow propping while on CLRT.
RESULTS: No clinically relevant differences in interface pressure mapping were observed when CLRT with pillow repositioning was compared with CLRT alone.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this small pilot study suggest that positioning patients on pillows while on CLRT may not be necessary. Results also suggest that positioning with pillows may diminish pulmonary benefits of CLRT. Additional research is needed to confirm these hypotheses.