Tissue measurements to detect tissue damage and pressure ulceration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tissue vascular optics and impedance measurements for the detection of early tissue damage and pressure ulceration
IRAS ID
238725
Contact name
Gerard Stansby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 12 days
Research summary
Tissue vascular optics and impedance measurements for the detection of early tissue damage and pressure ulceration
Pressure ulcers are common, preventable and cost the NHS £3.8million/day. Poor perfusion and tissue damage predates ulcers. Currently, scoring systems and skin checks form the risk assessment carried out for patients. Pressure relieving devices and nursing care can down-stage ulcers and prevent damage. Despite this, in NuTH 100 new pressure ulcers develop per month in hospital. Once an ulcer has developed, they can be painful and take months to heal, requiring regular dressings, specialist involvement and possibly surgery.
We know that when injury/ inflammation develop, changes in blood flow, oxygenation, temperature and swelling occur.
We do not have a non-invasive, effective and reliable method of detecting early tissue damage in patients at risk of pressure ulcers. We propose combining techniques looking at specific tissue qualities with patient specific risk factors (current system) is the answer to reducing pressure ulcers.
Laser Doppler Flowmetry: light detects microvascular blood flow.
Spectrometry: can estimate tissue oxygen saturation up to 25mm.
Thermal imaging: detects infra-red energy released from the tissue surface.
Sub-epidermal moisture: Changes to water content can change electrical properties of the tissues, which are measured from the skin surface.We will recruit 20 healthy volunteers, 50 patients who are at risk of an ulcer (current system), 50 who have a Pressure ulcer on their heel (Category I) and up to 50 with Deep Tissue Injury on their heel.
We will take non-invasive measurements (above) from each patient’s heel.
Patients will be recruited from the Freeman hospital (inpatients). Nurses will identify suitable patients and pass details to the research fellow.
Information from measurements WILL NOT influence treatment of participants.
Participants will attend for one 60 minute session. The study will last 18 months.
We have full funding.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
19/WA/0045
Date of REC Opinion
18 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion