Soppi E, Lehtiö J, Saarinen H, et al.
Ostomy/wound management. Date of publication 2015 Feb 1;volume 61(2):38-46.
1. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2015 Feb;61(2):38-46.
An overview of polyurethane foams in higher specification foam mattresses.
Soppi E(1), Lehtiö J(2), Saarinen H(2).
Author information:
(1)Carital Ltd, Helsinki, Finland; email: esa.soppi@ mitconsulting.fi.
(2)Carital Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.
Soft polyurethane foams exist in thousands of grades and constitute essential
components of hospital mattresses. For pressure ulcer prevention, the ability of
foams to control the immersion and envelopment of patients is essential. Higher
specification foam mattresses (i.e., foam mattresses that relieve pressure via
optimum patient immersion and envelopment while enabling patient position
changes) are claimed to be more effective for preventing pressure ulcers than
standard mattresses. Foam grade evaluations should include resiliency, density,
hardness, indentation force/load deflection, progressive hardness, tensile
strength, and elongation along with essential criteria for higher specification
foam mattresses. Patient-specific requirements may include optimal control of
patient immersion and envelopment. Mattress cover characteristics should include
breathability, impermeability to fluids, and fire safety and not affect mattress
function. Additional determinations such as hardness are assessed according to
the guidelines of the American Society for Testing and Materials and the
International Organization for Standardization. At this time, no single foam
grade provides an optimal combination of the above key requirements, but the
literature suggests a combination of at least 2 foams may create an optimal
higher specification foam mattress for pressure ulcer prevention. Future research
and the development of product specification accuracy standards are needed to
help clinicians make evidence-based decisions about mattress use.
PMID: 25654780 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
