Prevention of pressure injuries using a non-motorised decompression air mattress: a non-interventional study.

OBJECTIVE: Prevention of pressure injuries (PI) is a public health issue. Among the preventive measures, the use of support surfaces adapted to the risk of PI occurrence is recommended. This study aimed to report the incidence of PIs in patients at medium-to-high risk of occurrence of PIs and using a new non-motorised automated decompression air mattress combined with other recommended PI prevention measures. METHOD: An observational, national, multicentre, prospective, non-comparative study, with a follow-up period of 35 days was conducted. Patients at medium-to-high risk of PIs and without PIs at baseline were included if they were lying on a specific non-powered automated decompression air mattress. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who developed at least one category 2 or more severe PI of the sacrum, backbone or heel between day 0 and day 35. RESULTS: In total, 81 patients were included from four participating centres. There was one report of a patient with a PI that fitted within the definition of the primary outcome, meaning an incidence of 1.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0-6.7%). More than 80% of patients rated the overall comfort and the stability of the non-motorised automated decompression air mattress as satisfactory or very satisfactory. In more than 80% of cases, the healthcare teams found the use of the mattress to be easy or very easy. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that in combination with other preventive measures, the use of a specific non-motorised air mattress with automated decompression is associated with a low incidence of PIs in patients with medium-to-high risk of occurrence of PIs.

An exploration of nursing home residents' experiences of a non-powered static air mattress overlay to prevent pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue and are associated with a negative impact on well-being and health-related quality of life. This explorative, qualitative study aimed to explore the true meaning of elderly nursing home residents' perspectives and critical success factors when implementing a new non-powered static air mattress overlay to prevent pressure ulcers. Individual, loosely structured interviews were conductedin 12 nursing homes in Flanders, the Northern region of Belgium, a convenience sampling of 14 nursing home residents were selected based on the following eligibility criteria: high risk for pressure ulcer and/or with category 1 pressure ulcer, being bedbound and/or chair-bound, aged >65 years, and use of an alternating air pressure mattress previous to the application of the non-powered static air mattress overlay. Interviews were conducted in the participants' personal rooms between June 2017 and March 2018. Interviews included broad, open-ended questions, to invite and encourage participants to openly discuss their perspectives and experiences. Participants were interviewed once during the 14-day observation period between day 3 and day 14. All interviews were audio-recorded and fully transcribed by an experienced transcriber. Interviews were read several times to reveal emerging patterns and were marked with codes into NVivo 10 qualitative data analysis software. During the process, (sub) themes were discussed by the authors until a consensus was reached. Three main themes emerged from the analysis process: rest and sleep; mobility; and discomfort and pain associated with the use of the support surface. Themes were divided into multiple subthemes: motion, noise, sensation, repositioning, and transfer in and out of bed. Through interviews, critical success factors associated with the implementation were identified, including the lack of information and time needed to evaluate the functionality and effects of a new mattress overlay. Implementation of a non-powered static air mattress overlay to prevent pressure ulcers has a far-reaching impact on nursing home residents' experiences. This study provides insight into the true meaning of patients' perspectives by focusing on learning from the patients' experiences that provide valuable information for healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

The provision of therapy mattresses for pressure ulcer prevention.

Preventing pressure ulcers is complex and involves skin care, the provision of therapy mattresses, repositioning, the management of incontinence and adequate nutritional support. This article describes a model of therapy mattress provision that is based on non-powered products. Evaluating the efficiency of this model is challenging, due to the complexities of care, but Safety Thermometer data and incidents reports offer reassurance that non-powered therapy mattresses can provide adequate pressure ulcer prevention. Therapy mattress provision is only one of the five interventions and these are described in details to give readers a fuller picture of the model used at the author's trust.

Behavioural adaptations to flight into thin air.

Soaring raptors can fly at high altitudes of up to 9000 m. The behavioural adjustments to high-altitude flights are largely unknown. We studied thermalling flights of Himalayan vultures (Gyps himalayensis) from 50 to 6500 m above sea level, a twofold range of air densities. To create the necessary lift to support the same weight and maintain soaring flight in thin air birds might modify lift coefficient by biophysical changes, such as wing posture and increasing the power expenditure. Alternatively, they can change their flight characteristics. We show that vultures use the latter and increase circle radius by 35% and airspeed by 21% over their flight altitude range. These simple behavioural adjustments enable vultures to move seamlessly during their annual migrations over the Himalaya without increasing energy output for flight at high elevations.

The Effect of a Non-Powered, Self-Initiated Mobility Program on the Engagement of Young Children with Severe Mobility Limitations in the South African Context.

AIM: To determine the effect of a non-powered, self-initiated mobility program on the engagement of young children with severe mobility limitations, in the South African context. METHODS: A multiple-probe-across-participant design was used. Four children (aged 2-6 years) with severe mobility limitations underwent an intervention that targeted non-powered, self-initiated mobility. The intervention comprised eight sessions over a 2-week period. Engagement was measured during each baseline, intervention and postintervention session using the Individual Child Engagement Record-Revised (ICER-R). The data were presented graphically and analyzed using statistical procedures appropriate for single-subject designs. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated an improvement in engagement during the time in which non-powered, self-initiated mobility program was introduced. A reciprocal deterioration in nonengagement was also demonstrated. The results of the study are discussed in terms of various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a non-powered, self-initiated mobility program may be effective in improving engagement in some young children with severe mobility limitations.

Removal of Particulate Matter by a Non-Powered Brush Filter Using Electrostatic Forces.

In urban areas, a major source of harmful particulate matter is generated by vehicles. In particular, bus stops, where people often stay for public transportation, generate high concentrations of particulate matter compared to the general atmosphere. In this study, a non-powered type brush filter that generates electrostatic force without using a separate power source was developed to manage the concentration of particulate matter exposed at bus stops, and the removal performance of particulate matter was evaluated. The dust collection performance of the non-motorized brush filter varied by material, with particle removal efficiencies of 82.1 ± 3.4, 76.1 ± 4.7, and 73.7 ± 4.5% for horse hair, nylon, and stainless steel, respectively. In conditions without the fan running to see the effect of airflow, the particle removal efficiency was relatively low at 58.2 ± 8.4, 53.6 ± 9.2, and 58.0 ± 7.3%. Then, to check the dust collection performance according to the density, the number of brushes was increased to densify the density, and the horse hair, nylon, and stainless steel brush filters showed a maximum dust collection performance of 89.6 ± 2.2, 88.3 ± 3.2, and 82.1 ± 3.8%, respectively. To determine the replacement cycle of the non-powered brush filter, the particulate removal performance was initially 88.0 ± 3.2% when five horse hair brushes were used. Over time, particulate matter tended to gradually decrease, but after a period of time, particulate matter tended to increase again. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the particulate matter removal performance using a brush filter that generates electrostatic force without a separate power source. This study's brush filter is expected to solve the maintenance problems caused by the purchase and frequent replacement of expensive HEPA filters that occur with existing abatement devices, and the ozone problems caused by abatement devices that use high voltages.

Use of a Novel Portable Non-powered Suction Device in Patients With Oropharyngeal Dysphagia During a Choking Emergency.

Choking remains a leading cause of accidental death and morbidity worldwide. Currently, there is no device to assist in the resuscitation of a choking victim when standard maneuvers fail. A novel portable non-powered suction device (LifeVac; LifeVac LLC, Nesconset, NY) has been developed and may have potential use in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia who are at increased risk of choking. The device is FDA registered and distributed worldwide. This case series provides a summary of self-reported data regarding the use of the suction device in adult patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia during real-world choking emergencies recorded between January 2014 and July 2020. Over a 6-year monitoring period the device has been reported to be successful in the resuscitation of 38 out of 39 patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia during choking emergencies. Although the obstruction was removed with the device from the 39th patient, resuscitation was not successful and he succumbed to his injuries. This portable, non-powered suction device may be useful in resuscitating patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia who are choking. The reported cases describe successful use of the device in real-world settings with minimal risk. Resuscitating patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia using this device may be a viable option when abdominal thrusts or back blows fail to resolve a choking emergency.