TurnCare Guardian System Cuts Pressure Injuries in ECMO Patients

The analysis, led by Chris Linke of M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, tracked outcomes across a baseline cohort of 317 ECMO patients compared against 92 patients treated with the Guardian System. By integrating a high-precision pressure controller with anatomically designed support surfaces, the technology aims to restore blood flow in patients restricted by prolonged immobility and complex care requirements.

Results demonstrated a 40.8% drop in sacral-region HAPI incidence and a 36.2% decrease in total HAPI cases per 1,000 ECMO days. Most notably, the occurrence of sacral-region Stage 2 injuries plummeted by 72.7%. Beyond skin integrity, the study recorded an increase in ECMO survival rates, which rose from 53.2% to 57.8% following the implementation of the system. Linda Seaman, VP of Clinical Affairs at TurnCare, noted that these findings highlight the necessity of shifting toward dynamic prevention strategies that actively address impaired circulation in intensive care settings.