Interface pressure measurement during surgery: a comparison of four operating table surfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Operating room (OR) mattresses play a critical role in patient safety by preventing pressure-related injuries.
• Interface pressure measurements are crucial for evaluating the efficacy of support surfaces.
• Different mattress materials offer varying pressure-reducing and redistributing properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the pressure-reducing and pressure-redistributing capabilities of four distinct OR table mattresses.
• To assess mattress performance in both supine and lithotomy positions using interface pressure mapping.

Main Methods:

• Randomized assignment of four mattress types (fiber-filled, viscoelastic foam, air-filled, fluid) to 80 surgical patients.
• Interface pressure measurements using an XSENSOR full-body pressure-mapping system in supine and lithotomy positions.
• Analysis of peak pressure, peak pressure index, total contact area, and pressure increase over time.

Main Results:

• The standard fiber-filled OR mattress exhibited the highest interface pressures in both tested positions.
• The fluid mattress demonstrated the most effective pressure reduction and redistribution.
• Significant differences in pressure distribution were observed across the tested mattress types.

Conclusions:

• The fluid mattress offers superior performance in mitigating interface pressures during surgical procedures.
• Clinical evaluation of OR table surfaces remains necessary due to the lack of established pressure thresholds for preventing tissue damage.
• Further research may inform the development of optimal OR mattress designs.