A feasibility study of Intermittent Electrical Stimulation to prevent Deep Tissue Injury in the Intensive Care Unit

Kane et al, 2017 [prospective cohort study design; n=20; male and female; from 19 to 86 years old] aimed to investigate the feasibility of utilizing IES in an intensive care environment in immobile patients, as a potential method for preventing pressure ulcers. Intermittent 35 Hz electrical stimulation was administered through surface electrodes to the gluteal muscles causing them to contract for 10 s every 10 min. Subjects utilized IES on a program that increased from 4 to 24 h per day over 8 days and lasted up to a maximum of 4 weeks. No pressure ulcers occurred in any subject during the study. No untoward reactions or adverse events had occurred directly because of IES. Based on the results the authors concluded that IES is both safe and feasible to implement in intensive care units.