Air Fluidized Bed Vs Low Air Loss

Check the box which describes coexisting conditions which may affect wound healing specify condition s.

Air fluidized bed vs low air loss.

An air fluidized bed supports the body with thousands of tiny soda lime glass beads suspended by. They are designed to minimize the forces that cause tissue breakdown including pressure shear friction heat and moisture. Air fluidized beds are therapy beds that provide an ideal healing environment for patients with compromised skin. An air fluidized support surface employs the circulation of filtered air through silicone coated ceramic beads creating the characteristics of fluid.

Powered and air fluidized beds are semi electric or completely electric hospital support surfaces with a fully integrated powered mattress that has a total height of 3 inches or greater and a surface designed to reduce friction and shear. Other reports of decreased pressure have ranged from 5 mm hg to16 mm hg for air fluidized therapy while low air loss beds reduced pressures to 12 mm hg to 45 mm hg. A low air loss mattress is a mattress designed to prevent and treat pressure wounds. Low air loss mattresses are made using laser technology.

Low air loss means that the surface provides flow of air to help manage the microclimate of the patient s skin. Group 1 static overlays and replacement mattresses group 2 low air loss beds alternating pressure and powered non powered overlays mattresses and group 3 air fluidized beds. Air fluidized surfaces are expensive and difficult to maintain. The ahrq guideline which hill rom cites also states that a clean pressure ulcer should show evidence of some healing within 2 to 4 weeks.

A randomized controlled trial will be required to compare low air loss bed and air fluidized bed therapy we are not aware of such a published study. Support surfaces were categorized as. A blower will typically output around 100 150 liters of air into the mattress drying the skin. The mattress is composed of multiple inflatable air tubes that alternately inflate and deflate mimicking the movement of a patient shifting in bed or being rotated by a caregiver never leaving the patient in one position for any extended length of time.

Low air loss mattress design. 39 in one study interface pressures on a standard hospital bed ranged from 44 mm hg sacrum to 104 mm hg heel. These mattresses also have an electric air pump usually positioned at the foot of the bed that continuously flows new fresh air into the mattress. Form ms 80 must be signed and dated by the physician.

These holes are designed to let air out of the mattress extremely slowly. Air fluidized surfaces provide pressure redistribution by immersion and envelopment using a fluid like medium created by forcing air through silicone beads. Calculation of healing rates using the largest ulcer from each resident found mean healing rates greatest for air. If coexisting conditions are present list the condition s physician signature and date.