Monitoraggio continuo delle pressioni di contattoin una terapia intensiva generale:uno studio prospettico osservazionale

In-In-troduction. troduction. A continuous bedside pressure mapping device (PMD) can provide real-time feedback of ideal body position to allow off-loading of high-pressure areas to prevent pressure ulcers development. Objective. To describe the imple-mentation of a PMD to measure tissue interface pressure (PIT) in Intensive Care (ICU) patients. Methods. Prospective observational study in ICU critically ill mechanically ventilated adults, in an Italian University Hospital. Subjects were enrolled in the first 24 hours after ICU admission. A pressure mapping system (M.A.P. System TM) was used and 3 mea-surements of PIT with patient in supine position, every 6 hours after admission, were performed. The following anti-decubi-tus surfaces were used: Duo2®-Hill-Rom, Proficare®, Nim-bus 3® or Therakair Visio®-Arjohuntleigh, Getinge Group. Results. 27 patients (8 females) were enrolled; average Body Mass Index 27±6 (range: 16-43); 4 patients (14%) were dia-betic. The average pressure of the 1215 areas analyzed was 26.7±19.6 mmHg (range: 3-78); the region with the highest contact pressure was the dorsal region (average: 48.7±12.5 mmHg), followed by the occipital (44.7±19.6 mmHg), and sacrum (44.7±10.7 mmHg). The three anti-decubitus surfaces showed different performances in the distribution of PITs, with statistically significant differences for the following factors: body weight (p = 0.017), patient height (p = 0.034), with in-creased pressures in taller patients, and higher BMI (p <0.0001). Conclusions. Mean values of PIT were above critical levels, especially in the dorsal, occipital and sacrum region.