Pneumatic Compression Therapy Analysis

Outcome 1 understand the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to pressure area care

In Paper 2, the main problem is that the current way of recording human activity is not accurate enough. Human Activity recognition is very important for health care monitoring which is one of the main reasons why accuracy is very crucial. The proposed solution for this problem is the Monkey Algorithm which is a classification algorithm. The goal of the solution is to use a combination between classification task and nature inspired computing techniques to classify human activity patterns based on smartphone data. The proposed solution allows for nature inspired computing to study human behavior based on wireless devices and the new age of modern technology. After data was taken from the Monkey

The decline of jobs involving high intensity manual labor, the the rise of internet, computer, and T.V. access means that we are more sedentary than in the past. Engaging in physical activity prevents and alleviated many common disorders and diseases such as: obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression, and type 2 diabetes. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get 2 and a half hours of moderate exercise during a week (CDC, 2008). In the past, few years several companies have produced smart devices to help monitor and motivate physical activity.

Taping is a common practice that has been used by medical professionals for years.1 Over time, new treatments or devices are presented to the public with the promotion of being able to help people. One specific treatment or device that has been used is Kinesio tape. It was designed by a “Japanese chiropractor, Kenzo Kase in 1980...it is approximately the same thickness as the epidermis...it has heat-activated glue...is able to stretch to 140% of its resting length and can stay on the body for 3-5 days.”2 The tape has been said to have therapeutic qualities. These qualities include but are not limited to: assisting edema removal, decreasing pain, helping range of motion, increasing lymphatic flow and improving proprioception.3

During this monitoring, the nurse should perform vital signs. According to Silvestri (2014) he/she should assess the patient’s cardiac rhythm for dysrhythmias, chest pain, peripheral pulse, color, warmth and sensation of the extremity distal to the insertion site. If the patient is experiencing dysrhythmias, chest pain, loss of peripheral pulse, the limb has turned pale or cyanotic, cool to touch or if the patient complains of numbness and tingling of the extremity distal to the insertion site, the surgeon must be called promptly. The nurse should also assess the compression device or sandbag to make sure it is secure. He/she should assess the pressure dressing for bleeding or a hematoma. Should there be active bleeding, the nurse should apply direct manual pressure to the insertion site and get help to call the surgeon. The surgeon should also be called when a hematoma develops. The nurse should be monitoring the patient for nausea, vomiting, rash or any other signs of hypersensitivity (Silvestri, 2014).

The area of the injury must be observed for how well the circulation to this area is. While preparing for treatment, nurses can use a chart called the “Braden Scale” which determines different factors that contributed to the injury, which will give them a better idea about which treatment plan they should follow. In DeWitt’s “Medical-Surgical Concepts and Practices” it describes the scale having 6 factors that can contribute to a pressure injury as in “sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction and shear” (DeWitt, 2013). It is easier to prevent pressure injuries than it is to treat them, that is why constant interventions are created to decrease the incidences of pressure injuries. A patient with an arterial pressure injury, depending on the severity will have a reduction in pressure over the area. Once the damage is done, the next measure is to relieve the pain and begin to start treatments. One simple way to help alleviate the pain is to dangle the affected area. This causes the blood to pull towards the feet increasing the blood flow to the lower extremities. One of the more tolerable treatments for an arterial pressure injury is to loosely wrap the affected area after receiving the cleaning. Other simple suggestions are to stop smoking, maintenance of high blood pressure, proper care if diabetic and change in diet.

Mild compression is used for minor conditions and is measured at 8-15 mmHg. For moderate leg swelling and mild leg pain, moderate compression is often used, measuring at 15-20 mmHg. Firm compression is the type of compression stocking used for edema treatment, and applies firm pressure measured at 20-10 mmHg. For extreme swelling and severe edema, extra-firm compression (30-40 mmHg) can be applied to help promote blood flow.

Technology is having an unstoppable evolution and penetration in all field, becoming an essential element in people’s life and even being in some cases, a quality of life provider. However, some technology like smart knee brace are having great difficulties to penetrate the field of Physiotherapy. They are not commonly available for the use by physiotherapist on their patients, despite the great benefits of the device in terms of improving human life (Azkoitia, 2007).

Death from deep vein thrombosis developed in a healthcare setting can potentially be prevented or reduced. Prophylactic measures backed by evidence based practice need to be taken to help these incidents. Awareness must be raised with nursing staff, medical doctors and other healthcare professions. Many different modalities can help prevent the development of deep vein thrombosis; this paper will concentrate a mechanical method. This research proposal examines whether the use of a pneumatic compression device reduces the incidence of developing deep vein thrombosis compared to no intervention during the period of hospitalization. The research design being utilized is a true experimental study. Participants will be placed into either the experimental group that will receive the intervention of the pneumatic compression device. The other control group will not receive any intervention. Possible implications of this study could be a change in protocol regarding pneumatic compression device practice. The study postulates that a pneumatic compression device will reduce the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis in the hospitalized patient.

Exoskeletons and orthoses are defined as mechanical devices “worn” by an operator and fitted closely to the body to work in concert with the operator’s movements. The term “exoskeleton” is used to describe a device that augments the wearers performance, while the term “orthosis” is used to describe a device used to assist a person with limb pathology. Lower extremity exoskeletons seek to circumvent the limitations of autonomous legged robots by adding a human operator to the system. The system is designed in parallel with human limbs to augment human strength and endurance during locomotion. The basic system design consists of two powered anthropomorphic legs, a power unit, associated actuators, sensors, and a control unit.

Kershaw County EMS is requesting Lucas Chest Compression Systems for all front-line units. Due to staffing and geographic challenges, these devices would have a positive impact on patient care outcomes and help to significantly reduce the need for long-term firefighter utilization. Kershaw County EMS is an ALS level organization that has been serving the members of Kershaw county for over 30 years. We have four 24 hour units, one 12 hour unit, 2 QRV's and roughly 40 full-time staff. We serve a population of 63,000 citizens and that covers 726 square miles. The geographic layout of the county presents the biggest challenges. Travel time from the outer areas of the county to our closest hospital can exceed 30 minutes. Cardiac arrest patients

Throughout the history of healthcare, new techniques and advancements in medicine have been monumental in the fight against disease. However, despite the improvements in modern medicine there has been one challenge that has continued to persist like a thick thorn in the side of the healthcare profession. This hindrance in the face of modern medicine is known as a pressure ulcer. Pressure ulcers develop as a result of persistent pressure over a boney prominence from prolonged immobility or from a lack of movement (Cox & Rasmussen, pg., 15). Pressure ulcers take away not only billions of dollars from hospitals annually but also take away the well-being of hundreds of thousands of patients each year (White, pg. 554). Pressures ulcers do not discriminate

Arterial tourniquet is used in limb surgeries to provide a bloodless field and improve the surgical conditions. However, tourniquet inflation is associated with some consequences that may be relatively benign in healthy individuals, but could be hazardous in patients with impaired cardiac conditions [1]. Tourniquet inflation is associated with an increased sympathetic outflow, an increase in arterial blood pressure and severe pain [2-4].

Intermittent pneumatic compression is a therapeutic technique used in medical devices to improve venous circulation in the limbs of patients who suffer from edema or the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism. The device contains an air pump and inflatable auxiliary sleeves, gloves or boots in a system.

Pressure injury, due to its high prevalence & probability, is nowadays seen as a patient safety issue internationally. As patient 's safety is paramount, a great importance is accorded to the issue. Even the performance of hospitals is benchmarked against the skin care quality, an attribute of quality care. This comparative essay outlines the evidence-based best practice recommendations to abate the risk of pressure injuries to patients in care. These recommendations, in essence, relate to the five research journal articles published recently.