Balloons, Beds, and Breakdown: Effects of Low-Air Loss Therapy on the Development of Pressure Ulcers in Cardiovascular Surgical Patients with Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Support

Abstract

There is limited research related to pressure ulcers in the ICU patient population and even less has focused on patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery and IABP support. The objective of this article was to determine the incidence of pressure ulcers in the postoperative CVS patient with IABP support and to determine if LAL therapy was more effective in the prevention of pressure ulcers in this patient population. In a quasiexperimental design, a convenience sample of 36 adults was used. Patients who were placed on IABP support the day of surgery were enrolled into the study within 24 hours of admission to the cardiovascular recovery room. Data collection was daily for 4 days and continued if the patient developed a pressure ulcer. Final measurements were obtained on the day of hospital discharge. Instruments used were demographic data form, APACHE II, Patient Identification for Rotation Therapy, and the Braden Scale. The most common surgical patient in this pilot underwent aortocoronary bypass with IABP support. Pressure ulcers developed in 9 of 36 (25%) patients for a total of 17 ulcers. Patients who developed pressure ulcers were generally older, had a history of cerebrovascular disease, renal insufficiency, a higher APACHE II score, and Braden score of 9 on POD 1. In addition, these patients generally had a lower hemoglobin level, higher serum creatinine level, and an altered level of consciousness on POD 1. The results suggest that LAL therapy does make a difference in the prevention of pressure ulcers in the aortocoronary bypass patient with IABP support.