Effectiveness of a Combined Aloe Vera-Peppermint Gel on Prevention Pressure Injuries Among Intensive Care Unit Patients

Inclusion criteria

• ICU patients aged 18 years or older.
• Admission to the ICU without pressure injury according to the NPUAP scale on the first day of hospitalization.
• Unconsciousness, being under sedation or assisted ventilation.
• Patients that are at risk of moderate to severe PIs according to Braden scoring tool and scored less than 13-14.
• No Diarrhea, serum Albumin level below 3.5 g/dl, no edema.
• No limit of changes in body position with multiple injuries.
• Family consent to participate in the study.
• The patient has no history of autoimmune diseases, renal failure, or diabetes, does not use immunosuppressive medications, and has no evidence of vascular disease.
• All patients receiving standardized care (repositioning and pressure-relieving mattress).

Exclusion criteria

• Family's unwillingness for the patient to continue participation
• Sensitivity to Aloe Vera-Peppermint Gel after use on a patient's forearm (area of 2 × 2 cm) and this area was evaluated for the presence of redness, swelling and warmth within 45 min.
• Spinal cord injury cases
• death or patient transmission in less than 48 hrs. after admission to the ICU.