Pressure Ulcers

Question 1

What is a pressure ulcer?

Answer 1

An ulcer that occurs on pressure areas- bony prominences, elbows

Question 2

What are the risk factors for pressure ulcers?

Answer 2

reduced mobility, impaired sensation, an acute/chronic or palliative illness/ pyrexia/ steroids/ age/ level of consciousness/ dehydration / incontinence / hx of pressure ulcers / vascular disease

Extrinsic factors- some form of pressure, shear (skin pulled in 2 opp directions), friction (rubbing of two surfaces), moisture

Question 3

What is the danger of pressure sores?

Answer 3

You can get reperfusion injury

Question 4

Where do you get pressure ulcers?

Answer 4

High risk areas are anywhere that comes into contact with pressure, typically over bony prominences
Heels, elbows, sacrum, shoulder blades

Question 5

How does a pressure ulcer normally present?

Answer 5

Non blanching erythema which progresses to deep tissue

Loss

Question 6

How can you prevent pressure ulcers?

Answer 6

Patients at risk should be repositioned every 4 hours, those who are not at risk- 6 hours