Recommendations for the development of a new aeromedical evacuation mattress / by Matthew J.E. Turnock and Joan Saary. : D68-5/001-2012E-PDF

This study is an investigation into the best available evidence for selecting and evaluating an aeromedical transport mattress for reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in Canadian Forces (CF) members undergoing long-duration aeromedical evacuation. A set of recommendations for a new mattress is made based on a literature survey of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. No difference was found between different mattress categories (dynamic high-tech, static high-tech, and static low-tech) in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers, but significant reductions were found when compared to standard hospital mattresses. Little evidence was found to support the clinical utility of biomedical measurements of tissue perfusion based on interface pressure, transcutaneous oxygen tension, and laser doppler flowmetry. Based on the literature findings, to minimize cost, maintenance, and power requirements, and meet operational ergonomic requirements, it is recommended that a static low-tech mattress made of visco-elastic foam be used with the following length, width, and depth dimensions: 193 cm x 62.5 cm x 12.7 cm. The effectiveness of this mattress would be best evaluated using a randomized controlled trial to compare it with the current standard of care mattress.

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