Effectiveness of Platform-Based Lateralization Therapy in Reducing Interface Pressure Between The Patient And The Support Surface
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Respiratory Insufficiency, Pressure Injury, Intensive Care Medicine, ARDS
In brief
Pressure injury (PI) is characterized as damage to the skin and/or underlying tissues resulting from sustained pressure or a combination of pressure and shear forces between the patient and the support surface. Prolonged pressure is a well-established risk factor in the development of PIs. Frequent repositioning and routine patient care have been recognized for decades as integral components of PI prevention and treatment protocols. The duration of interface pressure is as critical as its magnitude. When interface pressure exceeds the mean capillary blood pressure, blood flow can be compromised, leading to ischemia in affected areas, which may progress to necrosis if sustained over time. Furthermore, it is widely accepted in the literature that tissue becomes at risk when interface pressure exceeds 30 to 32 mmHg. In this context, continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT) offers a potential alternative for managing critically ill patients. CLRT involves continuous mechanical rotation of the patient in the lateral plane. However, its effects on skin integrity remain poorly understood. Despite the rationale behind and widespread recommendation of repositioning, the lack of robust evaluations on how repositioning impacts interface pressure creates uncertainty, underscoring the need for high-quality trials to assess different strategies for implementation. Although lateralization is a pragmatic strategy for preventing pressure injuries, its use in critically ill patients requires an integrated assessment of respiratory, hemodynamic, and gastroesophageal effects. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative approach by evaluating, for the first time, the effectiveness of automated postural change with simultaneous monitoring of tissue integrity, pulmonary function, cardiovascular stability, and gastroesophageal protection. The aim is to optimize pressure injury prevention, improve pulmonary mechanics, ensure hemodynamic stability, and preserve gastroesophageal safety in critically ill patients.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT06819943
- Run by
- University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
- People needed
- 25
- Starts
- 2024-06-01
- Expected to finish
- 2027-10-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-06-22
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Adult and elderly patients, aged 18 years or older;
- Patients under controlled or assisted mechanical ventilation, not yet eligible for weaning.
You may not qualify if…
- Requirement of norepinephrine > 0.3 mcg/kg/min or mean arterial pressure < 60 mmHg, despite the use of vasopressor agents;
- Cardiac arrhythmias or bleeding leading to hemodynamic instability;
- Neurological diseases or symptoms;
- Spinal cord injury, such as paraplegia;
- Cardiac pacemaker dependence;
- Contraindications to hypercapnia, such as intracranial hypertension or acute coronary syndrome;
- Air leakage from chest drains, presence of pneumothorax or undrained subcutaneous emphysema;
- Presence of pre-existing pressure injuries in bony prominences (sacral, occipital, scapular, or calcaneal) at admission;
- Medical refusal to include the patient in the study.
Where it is running
- Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade São Paulo — São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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