May 24, 1999
UW studying new therapy using heat to manage pressure ulcers
Clinical studies are underway at the University of Washington to determine the effectiveness of heat therapy to manage pressure ulcers (bed sores).
An estimated 1.5 to 3 million Americans are affected by pressure ulcers, and 60,000 die every year as a result. The cost of treatment is estimated at more than $1.3 billion annually.
Pressure ulcers occur when soft tissue is compressed between a bony prominence and an external surface for an extended period of time, often a result of prolonged bed rest or sitting. Such ulcers are difficult to heal because many patients are immobile or inactive, have impaired blood flow, and suffer from incontinence, which can cause contamination of the wound. An estimated 70 percent of a pressure ulcer lies beneath the skin, making it more difficult to treat.
Preliminary studies conducted by Dr. Joie Whitney, associate professor in the UW School of Nursing, showed that wounds healed about twice as fast with heat treatment over the course of an eight-week period, compared to wounds treated with traditional wound-care products. “We think there is potential benefit to heat treatment,” said Whitney.
The research has now been expanded to 50 patients. Patients with pressure ulcers that have proven difficult to manage are now being accepted into the study, regardless of whether they are patients at medical facilities in Seattle or receiving home care.
The study utilizes Warm-Up active wound therapy, a noncontact wound care system that stimulates the body’s own natural healing by maintaining warmth and humidity in the wound area. The system consists of a disposable, raised cover that does not actually touch the wound; an infrared warming card slipped into a pocket on top of the wound cover; and a temperature control unit powered by AC current or battery. The therapy raises the temperature inside the cover to slightly above body temperature. The system is manufactured by Augustine Medical, Inc. of Minneapolis. Information on enrolling in the UW study is available from research nurse Lori Higa at (206) 616-3607. Participants must be over 18 years of age with a non-infected pressure ulcer. They must not be in a terminal phase of life or on steroid therapy. Patients accepted into the study will wear the Warm-Up product 24 hours a day until the wound closes.
