An update on horizontal patient support surfaces

Horizontal patient support surfaces play an important role in the prevention and development of pressure ulcers. This article reviews the literature published on these support surfaces since the release of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Clinical Practice Guideline Number 15: Treatment of Pressure Ulcers. The purpose of this review is twofold: One, to see if any new evidence is available to assist the clinician in making scientifically based decisions in the use of support surfaces, and two, to determine if new knowledge about support surfaces would change the AHCPR recommendation.