Chapter 12 - Pressure Ulcers Flashcards
What is a pressure ulcer?
A localized area of tissue necrosis that develops when soft tissue is compressed between a firm surface and underlying bone prominence
Who is at the greatest risk for developing a pressure ulcer?
- spinal cord injury patients
- hospitalized patients
- patients in long term care facilities
What is the etiology of pressure ulcers?
Pressure Ischemia Acidosis Inflammation Increased capillary permeability and edema Local tissue anoxia Necrosis
What are the 3 main factors that contribute to pressure ulcer formation?
1) inverse pressure-time relationship
2) individual hemodynamic factors
3) body location
What are the risk factors for pressure ulcer formation?
Shear Excessive moisture Impaired mobility Malnutrition Impaired sensation Advanced age History of pressure ulcers
What is shear?
Force parallel to soft tissue, may have teardrop appearance. Undermining is common, caused by friction
Why does moisture predispose skin to PUs?
- causes maceration
- increases shear
- increases friction forces
*can also be lack of moisture (anhydrous)
What are some causes for maceration to occur?
- wound drainage
- perspiration
- incontinence
How can impaired mobility predispose skin to PUs?
Affects patient ability to move (limited ROM, strength, infants), desire to move (pain and depression), and ability to perceive to pain (medications and UMN and LMN lesions)
What is the capillary closing pressure?
13-32 mmHg
Which tissue is the least tolerant to compression? Why?
Muscle- it has the highest metabolic demand. More sensitive to ischemia due to pressure cone.
T/F: Pressure ulcers may not appear for several days after the pressure is applied.
True, may not appear for 2-7 days due to extensive deep tissue damage without any clinical signs/symptoms
What is reactive hyperemia?
Follows short-term pressure relief, when ischemic tissues are flooded with blood rich in oxygen, nutrients, and vasodilators and waste is removed. “Blancable erythema” aka will turn white with pressure
T/F: Friction can directly cause pressure ulcers.
False- it can strip away the stratum corner though which can make the skin more susceptible to pressure ulcers.
Which form of moisture poses the most significant problem?
Incontinence due to the bacteria and acidity of urine and feces. Urinary incontinence increases risk 5-fold, those with bowel are more at risk than urine
T/F: Wet skin is more resistant to bacteria than dry skin.
False
T/F: There is a direct correlation between impaired mobility and pressure ulcer development.
True
Individuals who reposition themselves less than ___ times per night are at increased risk for pressure ulcer development.
20 times
What are the most frequently studied causes of impaired mobility with respect to pressure ulcer development?
- hospitalization
- fractures
- SCI
- infants, neonates
What are the best predictors for PU’s in an individual with an SCI?
- over 40
- young age of injury
- complete SCI
- lengthy hospitalization
- low education level
- alcohol abuse
- previous ulcer
Why are infants and neonates more at risk for PU development?
- fragile skin
- inability to reposition themselves
- medical tubes
- high frequency oscillatory ventilation devices
Poor nutrition, specifically low _______ levels contribute to PU development and correlate with severity.
Serum albumin
T/F: Malnutrition is the most common risk factor for PU development.
False- second most under impaired mobility
What are examples of conditions that would cause impaired sensation?
- SCI
- spina bifida
- stroke
- diabetes
- full thickness burns
- peripheral neuropathy
Of patients with PUs, more than ____ are over ___ years old.
Half, 70