Icon Maxx 500kg Bariatric

Bariatric patients may have difficulty repositioning themselves and nurses may be reluctant to turn and reposition the patient due to their realistic fear of injury and lack of training in how to safely manage heavier patients. Without the movement incurred in repositioning, the patient can sustain friction and shear damage and atypical pressure injuries in the skin folds. Support surfaces used for Bariatric patients must enhance the ability of the individual to reposition, for example, features such as firm strengthened sides.

Weight shifting is essential to avoid pressure damage whether the patient is in bed. Choosing and implementing the right bariatric equipment can help to facilitate independence. Much of the equipment needed is specialised, is made from heavy duty materials, and will require training in its use.

Beds should support the weight of the patient and be wide enough to enable movement and repositioning within the bed.

Dynamic or alternating air mattresses can make individuals dependent, as getting in and out of, and moving around in bed is more difficult than with a foam mattress. The risk of increased dependence should be considered when allocating a mattress, especially within the community environment. Forté recommend the best solution for bariatric individuals with very high risk of obtaining a pressure injury should use a static bariatric mattress with static air ROHO sections located in the at-risk areas.

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Reactive support surfaces come in many different types including:

• Foam – mattress composed of foam or layers of foam with different densities and shapes. For example, Forté Icon Medium Care Mattresses.
• Air or Gel Filled – surfaces comprise air or gel-filled compartments. For example, ROHO Integrated Systems.
• Hybrid – surface combining foam and air technology to maximise the benefits offered by both static and alternating surfaces.
• Low air loss – some air-filled support surfaces allow air to escape through small holes. The air flows along the inside of a vapour permeable patient contact layer. This draws moisture and heat through the contact layer and away from the skin. Low air loss aids control of moisture on a patient’s skin.
• Air-fluidised – contain sand-like particles through which air is forced. As the air is forced through the particles, they take on the properties of a liquid. The porous cover allows air to escape out of the mattress and body fluids to flow down into the support surface

“Pressure redistribution is achieved by either increasing the body surface area that comes in contact with the support surface through immersion and envelopment (to reduce concentrations of weight over bony prominences) or sequentially altering the parts of the body that bear the load, thus reducing the duration of loading at any given anatomical site”. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline 2019.

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