Week 4 - Pressure Ulcers Flashcards
- An injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken.
- Costly to treat
- Impact on quality of life
WOUND
A type of ulcer in which localized areas of prolonged ischemia of soft tissue that occur when pressure applied to the skin over time greater than the normal capillary closure pressure.
Pressure Ulcers (Decubitus Ulcer)
An open sore on an external or internal surface of the body, caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane that fails to heal.
Ulcer
How often should a client’s skin be assessed?(4)
All clients should be assessed for skin integrity: – On admission – On a weekly basis – Following a change in health status – Before transfer or discharge
What are some risk factors in developing a wound?
- Immobility
- Friction and shear
- Increased moisture (I.e. Incontinence, perspiration)
- Altered nutritional status (I.e. Deficiencies, anemia)
- Motor/sensory dysfunction
- Impaired cognition
- Decreased tissue perfusion (I.e. DM, obese)
- Splints, restraints etc.
- Critically ill
- Advanced age
- Medications
What is the goal for promoting skin integrity?
Goal is to reverse risk factors and causes; to prevent and treat wounds
What is a example of a susceptible area in developing a pressure ulcer?
Weight bearing prominences at risk due to small amount of subcutaneous tissue
Resistance to movement that occurs when two surfaces are moved across each other
Friction
An applied force or pressure exerted against the surface and layers of the skin as tissues slide in opposite but parallel planes.
- Created by interplay of gravitational forces & friction
Shear
Where in the body are friction and shear most susceptible?
Sacrum and heels most susceptible
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Susceptible
An assessment tool for determining a patient’s risk level for incurring skin breakdown.Braden Scale
Braden Scale
- Areas assessed in the Bradn Scale. (7) include:
sensory perception moisture activity mobility nutrition friction and shear (SMAMNFS)
Braden Scale Score indicates level of risk of skin breakdown:
- 9 or less- ______
very high risk
Braden Scale Score indicates level of risk of skin breakdown:
- 10-12 – _______
high risk
Braden Scale Score indicates level of risk of skin breakdown:
- 13-14- _______
moderate risk
Braden Scale Score indicates level of risk of skin breakdown:
- 15-16 _____
mild risk
Assess the pressure ulcer(s) initially for: (8)
- Stage/Depth
- Location
- Surface Area (length x width)
- Odour
- Sinus tracts/Undermining/Tunneling
- Exudate
- Appearance of the wound bed
- Condition of the surrounding skin (periwound) and wound edges
- when a wound diameter is wider at its base (deep in the wound) than at the wound’s skin edge.
- the wound is spread out underneath the skin that surrounds the visible part of the sore.
Undermining
- when the wound tracks under the skin to another opening in the skin OR to a deeper cavity.
- Sometimes referred to as a “sinus” or “tract”.
Tunneling
Redness or inflammation of the skin
Erythema
Breakdown of tissue as a result of moisture
Maceration
Healing by the growth of epithelium
Epithelization
Draining or oozing of fluid
Exudate
Containing pus
Purulent
Tissue that is being shed
Slough
Dead tissue
Necrotic
Scab or dry crust
Eschar
Pink fleshy projections that form during the healing process
Granulation
- Pressure Ulcer Stage?
•Area of erythema on intact skin
•Erythema does not whiten with pressure
•Skin temperature elevated (because of the increased vasodilation)
•Tissue swollen and congested
•Patient complains of discomfort
•Erythema progresses to dusky blue-gray (the result of skin capillary occlusion and subcutaneous weakening)
Stage I
- Pressure Ulcer Stage?
•Skin breaks- involves epidermis, dermis or both
•Abrasion, blister or shallow crater (superficial)
•Edema
•Ulcer may drain
•Infection may occur
•Pressure off loading by positioning
Stage II
- Pressure Ulcer Stage? •Full thickness skin loss involving ulcer extending into subcutaneous tissue •Necrosis and drainage •Infection often develops •Deep crater with no undermining •Specialty beds often required
Stage III
- Pressure Ulcer Stage?
•Ulcer extends to underlying muscle and bone
•Extensive destruction, tissue necrosis or damage to muscle, bone and supporting structures (tendons etc.)
•Deep pockets of infection develop
•Necrosis and drainage develop
•Goal of treatment
Stage IV
- Pressure Ulcer Stage?
•If you can’t see the wound base the wound is labeled stage X in your documentation
•Once the eschar is removed, it can be properly staged
•If healing is not the goal, keep eschar dry and intact; it is done by painting with betadine solution and frequent incontinence care.
•If healing is the goal, skin grafts are usually done after debridement and stabilizing patient and wound.
Stage X
If you can’t see the wound base the wound is labeled stage ___ in your documentation
X
Once the ___ is removed in a stage X pressure ulcer, it can be properly staged.
eschar
If healing is not the goal, keep eschar dry and intact; it is done by painting with _____ and frequent incontinence care.
betadine solution
If healing is the goal, skin grafts are usually done after ____ and stabilizing patient and wound.
Debridement
- refers to a surgical procedure to move tissue from one site to another on the body, or from another person, without bringing its own blood supply with it.
Grafting
Open area or tunneling under the edge of a wound
Undermining
Types of Exudates
- Serous:
- Sanguineous:
- Serosanguineous:
- Purulent:
Type of Exudate
- Clear ,watery plasma with visual
absence of pus, blood and debris
Serous
Type of Exudate
- Bloody drainage, appears entirely
composed of blood
Sanguineous
Type of Exudate
- Blood mixed with clear fluid
Serosanguineous
Type of Exudate
- Pus-like appearance,
cloudy, thick
Purulent
Wound base assessment - Color (3)
A) Black - eschar/ necrotic - cleanse & debride
B) Yellow - fibrin or slough - cleanse & debride
C) Pink/Red - granulation - protect
The wound base is “Black” what does it mean? What should the nurse do?
eschar/ necrotic - cleanse & debride