Read our review: Safety and usability of proning pillows in intensive care: a scoping review
Authors: Mathilde Desselle, Fiona Coyer, Isabel Byram, Roozbeh Fakhr, David Forrestal, Nicholas Green, Oliver Mason, Luke Wainwright, Marianne Kirrane.
Abstract
Review method: A scoping review of the literature was completed using predefined search terms in three databases and identified 296 articles. An additional 26 were included from reference lists. Twenty studies are included in the analysis; most were published in the past 3 years, with >50% in surgical settings.
Data sources: Three databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE.
Review methods: The review followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, and data were reviewed using Covidence.
Results: The most prevalent proning pillow is a standard, noncontoured foam head positioner. It is responsible for the majority of facial pressure injuries in all settings of care. Memory foam pillows and helmet-based systems offer improved surface pressure distribution, although their usability in the intensive care setting remains poorly studied. Inflatable air-cell-based devices present an alternative, but the lack of supporting research and the costs may explain their poor uptake. Several articles proposed the use of pressure sensor systems to evaluate devices. We propose a set of ergonomic parametres to consider when choosing or designing a positioning device for proned patients.
Conclusion: The evidence pertaining to the safety and usability of proning pillows in the intensive care setting is scarce, which provides opportunities for future research to improve the efficacy in the prevention of pressure injuries and the user experience.
