Anti-bedsore mattress

Many people wonder what is the peculiarity of the anti-decubitus mattress, how it differs from all others. However, when choosing, you need to think about what kind of sample you need: children's, orthopedic or other.

Caring for bedridden patients is not an easy task. Many patients are overweight, which makes caring for them even more difficult, because it is not possible to turn a person over alone. As a rule, bedridden people very soon begin to suffer from a new ailment - bedsores.

Pressure ulcers form as a result of tissue necrosis. Such wounds on the body deliver unbearable pain to an already suffering person. It just so happened that it is easier to resort to the prevention of pressure ulcers than to treat them, the more it is often possible only by surgical intervention. This is where the anti-decubitus mattress comes to the rescue.

They are also suitable for improving the condition of people who are already suffering from such an unpleasant ailment. Anti-decubitus systems provide a massage effect that stimulates blood circulation not only in the skin, but also in deep tissues.

Different types of systems can be selected for different patients: completely bedridden, with partial mobility, with injuries of the spine and bone marrow. Anti-decubitus models are made not only for beds, but also for sofas and even armchairs.

There are many types of anti-decubitus mattresses. First of all, they are divided into static and dynamic.

• Static mattress more like an ordinary orthopedic one, as it allows you to tightly fix the position of the patient's body. Such samples are suitable only for people with preserved mobility, as well as for rehabilitation of spinal injuries. Please note that if the bone marrow is damaged, only a static mattress without a compressor can be used.

• Dynamic models are made in two variations. The cell version is suitable for those who have partial mobility. There are significant limitations on health indicators. First, the patient should not weigh more than 120 kg. Secondly, if bedsores are already present, their severity should not exceed 2 degrees.
  1. The cell variant is a construct made up of a plurality of air chambers. They are often staggered.
  2. A tubular mattress is suitable for obese people and for those who are completely immobile. The degree of pressure sores can be the highest - the fourth.

• Balloon mattress are commonly designed with a ship opening to facilitate caregiver work and provide a tolerable level of hygiene.

Each of these options is usually equipped with laser perforation, which provides the sleeping area with sufficient ventilation. There are also air-blown mattresses: they additionally cool the patient's body.

Classic dynamic systems are equipped with compressors. More expensive models come complete with a control unit placed on the side of the patient.

• The control unit allows you to switch the operating modes of the mattress.
• The compressor can operate from the mains, or work as a stand-alone construct.
• Network models are equipped with special short-circuit protection fuses, while stand-alone models do not need additional power supply. They cost an order of magnitude more.

Separately, there is a children's mattress, which differs from an adult similar model only in size and coverage. It should be hypoallergenic and soft, the use of natural fabrics is encouraged.

Soft silicone models are suitable for the operating table. They are not suitable for long-term use, however, the patient will be more comfortable on such a substrate.

In this section, the filling of static models will be considered, since for dynamic systems the filling is the air pumped inside by the compressor.

Several materials are used as fillers for static mattresses: polyvinyl chloride, foam rubber (polyurethane foam) and gel.

• Polyvinyl chloride cheap, but it has one major drawback. PVC mattresses are practically not ventilated, as a result of which the lying patient sweats a lot. However, PVC systems are easy to clean, dry quickly and do not absorb unpleasant odors.

• Polyurethane The (foam) mattress is much better ventilated than its cheap counterpart. It cleans just as well and does not absorb foreign odors, but such models cannot be washed with plain water. It is advisable not to wet the base at all and to clean it with slightly damp wipes.

• Polyurethane foam Functional bed mattress is suitable for large recumbent persons with spinal injuries. It is imperative to choose the softest models that allow you to drown the body inside them, as it were. The buttocks, shoulder blades and other protruding parts will be recessed into the mattress, and the lower back will be provided with a sufficient level of support.

• Gel mattresses are an intermediate option between static and dynamic models. Due to the oscillation of the gel inside, body massage is performed not only from left to right, but also from bottom to top. Such models are not suitable for people with pre-existing bedsores, as well as for those who are constantly bedridden. Gel mattresses are a good alternative to cell complexes.

There are many advantages to using anti-decubitus mattresses. The first and foremost of them is the prevention of pressure ulcers and the improvement of the condition of patients already suffering from them. The massage created by the anti-decubitus systems stimulates the tissues, preventing the blood from stagnating in them.

The anti-decubitus system is placed directly on the main mattress.

It is important to follow the selection rules, which are quite simple.

• The anti-decubitus construct should not be larger or smaller than the main one. It is necessary to select a model that exactly matches the size.
• Systems are usually equipped with almost silent compressors, however, pay attention that the noise they produce does not exceed 10 dB.

Thus, the ease of choice is another significant plus.

The disadvantages include the impossibility of using an anti-decubitus specimen as an alternative to the usual one. In the case of dynamic systems, they are placed on a regular orthopedic mattress, which is both a plus and a minus.

Not every anti-decubitus kit can be used in cases where the patient has suffered an injury to the musculoskeletal system.A hip fracture, a severe spinal injury (especially one that has affected the back of the brain) requires rigid fixation of the body without any massage effect: it will only worsen the condition.

When choosing a mattress for cancer patients, it is best to focus on cell systems. As a rule, such patients are not completely immobilized and often suffer from dystrophy. Massage will help them feel better. It is important to ensure that the compressor is not noisy, as the dynamic systems are not switched off during sleep. Cancer patients sleep quite lightly, the compressor should not interfere with them.

The length and especially the width of anti-decubitus mattresses varies considerably, but these parameters usually correspond to the typical parameters of conventional mattresses.

The most common mattress is for small single beds measuring 800 x 1900 mm, since people suffering from immobility are rarely placed on double hulks.

There are mattresses with a width of 70, 80 cm. Seventy-centimeter designs are intended more for children than for adults, since few people will feel free on a 70-centimeter bed. In length, such mattresses are usually made either 190 cm or 200 cm. This parameter depends on the dimensions of the main mattress or bed.

Pay attention to the relationship between the bed and the anti-decubitus mattress. Choosing too large a model, which will hang on the sides, it is fraught with some difficulties, especially if the patient is overweight.

Kinks will prevent air from circulating inside the mattress, causing the compressor to constantly overload and possibly break. In addition, the pressure in such a canvas is distributed unevenly, so that the anti-decubitus effect is reduced to zero.

This is not the case with systems that are too small. The comfort of the patient should be in the first place, and lying on a mattress that does not correspond to the dimensions of the bed can cause significant discomfort.

Another cornerstone is that small systems slip and cannot be fixed with pins or other sharp objects - there is a chance to puncture cavities.

The weight of the mattress directly depends on the chosen model. So, cell structures can weigh within 3 kilograms, tubular - up to 5. Static mattresses weigh much more, basically their weight is the same as that of ordinary orthopedic models.

The compressor also has its own mass. As a rule, it is he who is the most difficult, and you need to carefully consider how to arrange it in the best way.

Ordinary hooks on the walls may not hold up, so many people resort to this technique: they hang the compressor directly from the side of the bed. Such an arrangement of this massive object is very convenient, since a partially mobile patient will be able to independently switch air supply modes, if the mattress is equipped with such.

It is also important to think about the weight of the patient himself. The fuller the patient, the more refined (and therefore heavier) he will need a mattress. Tubular models should be equipped with additional perforation and airflow. Each of these options adds to both the weight of the mattress and the cost.

Both static and dynamic models have different operating principles. While static models can be simply installed and immediately, without prior preparation, the patient is placed, then dynamic options require a more serious approach.

Static mattresses differ little in their principle of operation from orthopedic models, however, they have a different structure, supporting the whole body at once and not allowing any individual points to receive all the impact.

In dynamic systems, air is supplied alternately to one or the other chambers. Usually the chambers are filled in a checkerboard pattern.The cycle of changing filled cells or balloons does not exceed 10 minutes, and such a quick change does not allow blood to stagnate in the skin tissues. In addition, changing the cells allows you to massage the muscles and internal organs, improving the general condition of the patient.

The compressor can be connected to the mains, and such models are in greater demand than stand-alone ones. The need to place the compressor near the outlet imposes certain restrictions on the placement of the bed itself with a mattress. The compressor tubes should be located at the feet, and they should not be allowed to cross and intertwine. The compressor blows air into the mattress through the tubes.

Gel complexes do not need to be connected from the mains, they move by themselves under the body of a bed patient. In this case, the massage effect is not so pronounced, but this does not mean that it is worse. Full body relaxation occurs on gel mattresses. In some cases, they can be used for a healthy person who just wants to achieve a massage effect during sleep.

Each specific model has its own operating conditions, however there is a set of basic characteristics that are inherent in all dynamic mattresses.

• Do not inflate the mattress after placing the patient on it. This is due to the fact that it is much easier for the compressor to cope with the inflation of the structure without load, and in the future it is simply to maintain the required pressure level.
• Do not secure the anti-decubitus mattress, as well as the sheet on it, with pins.
• All tubing and compressor should be placed at the foot of the bed. Take care that the tubes are not intertwined or placed under the mattress.

• It is customary to lay absorbent diapers on top of the anti-decubitus mattress. They serve as a passable replacement for a ship compartment, but not sufficient. In addition, on the one hand, absorbent diapers have a completely sealed coating, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. It is extremely important to immediately buy a mattress, taking into account the fact that the patient is not walking.
• When adjusting the pressure level, use a simple test. After the mattress is inflated and the patient is in place, try slipping your finger between the anti-decubitus mattress and a regular mattress. If the finger passes too easily, then the cells are inflated tightly and you need to deflate the mattress a little. If the finger practically does not pass, it is necessary to increase the pressure in the mattress.

Today, models from Europe are the most trusted.

• In great honor - German anti-decubitus mattresses... Firms such as Titan Deutschland Gmbh, Belberg and others have established themselves well in the market. Their samples are of excellent quality and affordable prices, while the assortment is constantly updated.
• China and Taiwan offer quite decent samples, but you should not buy complicated models from these manufacturers. It is best to resort to buying Chinese mattresses if you need an option for a short period, for example, for six months of rehabilitation after an injury. Unfortunately, the warranty period offered by China is rather short - only 1 year. After the end of the warranty service, mattresses fail, as practice shows.

• Buy Polish mattress Is almost the same as buying German. In terms of quality, they are almost equivalent to each other. The main difference lies in the price tag for the product: Poland supplies mattresses at a higher price, but in some cases they are equipped with rare additional options, such as a special coating. The most famous is the Armed brand, which has been on the medical products market for several decades.

• Manufacturers from Russia also supply high quality products, but the price tag remains an order of magnitude higher than that of other representatives.This is due to the fact that Russian models are fully equipped in order to guarantee the comfort of the bedridden patient. They are made of durable materials, and the mattresses themselves offer a long warranty.

Many buyers share their experience of purchasing anti-decubitus mattresses. Most acquire such designs for bedridden relatives, and the reason is simple: caring for an immobilized patient is extremely difficult. Almost all reviews speak in favor of buying an anti-decubitus mattress for several reasons.

1. Firstly, a bedridden patient is not easy to care for as it needs to be turned over at least every 1-2 hours. With anti-decubitus mattresses, everything becomes much easier: now a person needs to be turned over every 3-4 days. This makes the caregiver's job much easier.
2. Another difference between specialized complexes is that anti-decubitus mattresses are equipped with indentations for the legs and a compartment for the ship. Many buyers noted that the availability of such options made their life even easier, and the patient began to feel much more comfortable.
3. Another thing that has been noted by people is that anti-pressure sore mattresses guarantee a massage effect, thus partially preventing complete muscle wasting. As a result, the pain in the patient's body becomes less pronounced, and his suffering diminishes.

The choice of a particular model depends entirely on the desired effect to be achieved. If a person is immobilized only not completely and has retained at least a partial ability to move, a cell sample will be the best choice. It is not necessary to choose a complex design, you can limit yourself to 1-2 modes of air supply.

In the presence of severe bedsores, with a large weight or complete immobility, it is better to give preference to balloon mattresses. They are better than cell ones to cope with the function of massaging tissues under high pressure of the body.

If the patient suffers from increased sweating, and also obese, it is best to look for a model with additional airflow. This will make the person's stay in bed more comfortable.

In case of serious injuries of the spine, you should not choose a dynamic mattress, you need to focus only on a static one. During recovery, complete fixation of the patient is important, but bedsores can occur quite quickly. To prevent this from happening, the pressure of the body on the surface should be distributed evenly without much pressure on certain areas.

The anti-decubitus mattress deflates slowly, be prepared for it. Many complain that when they try to blow it off on their own, the air is distilled from one cell to another, and it is impossible to completely "expel" it from the canvas.

However, there is a few tricks to make this procedure as comfortable as possible.

• First you need to disconnect the compressor from the mains or turn off the power of the stand-alone sample. When the compressor is running, the mattress will not deflate.
• Next, disconnect the compressor along with the tubes from the mattress. Do not remove the mattress from the bed.
• Gradually begin to smooth the mattress with your hands. Don't rush or press too hard. Gradually, the air will come out completely.
• When the cells are almost deflated, you can gradually fold the mattress into a tight bundle from the headboard to the legs. Thus, you will finally get rid of the air in the cavities, while at the same time preventing it from “wandering” inside the mattress from cell to cell.
• Store the mattress folded.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in deflating an anti-decubitus mattress, it is only important to be patient and follow the instructions given.

Cleaning rules differ for different types of mattresses, however some typical recommendations can still be given.

• Do not use abrasive substances or materials such as hard sponges or iron brushes to clean mattresses. All this can damage the protective layer of the model's coating.
• The mattress should only be cleaned when it is inflated. Make sure the sample is resilient enough to make the cleaning process much easier.
• After the general cleaning, the mattress must be dried in a room protected from sunlight. Do not expose the mattress to direct sun exposure.
• The mattresses must not be ironed even when deflated. If you need to disinfect them, quartzing and special antiseptic sprays are used.
• Store the anti-decubitus kits in a deflated rolled-up form.

You will learn even more information about bedsore mattresses in the following video.