Risk Of Developing Pressure Injuries Research Articles

The effects of using heel protectors on the prevention of heel pressure injuries and plantar flexion contractures.

Immobilization in the intensive care unit can lead to pressure injuries and plantar flexion contractures. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of heel protectors applied for the prevention of heel pressure injuries and plantar flexion contractures in intensive care units. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial in two adult intensive care units of a teaching and research hospital. The study sample consisted of 84 patients admitted to intensive care units between January 2022 and December 2022. Patients who had been in the intensive care unit for at least 5 days, scored 16 or less on the Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale and scored 4 or more on the Ramsey Sedation Scale, were included in the study. Heel protector boots were applied to the heels of the patients in the intervention group, while standard positioning with a pillow and ROM exercises were continued in the control group. A sociodemographic data form, the Ramsey Sedation Scale and the Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale were used to collect data. While pressure injuries were evaluated with the International NPUAP-EPUAP Pressure Ulcer Classification System, goniometric measurements were made to evaluate joint ROM. In the intervention group, heel pressure injuries did not develop during the study, whereas five patients in the control group developed heel pressure injuries. The risk of pressure injury development that was seen in the control group was 1.7 times higher compared with the risk for the intervention group (log 95% CI: 0.91-2.59). There were significant differences between the right foot (99%; F = 99.229; p = .000) and left foot (99%; F = 100.519; p = .000) in range of motion measurement values of the patients in the intervention group according to the measurement times. According to the results of the multiple comparison test (Bonferroni) performed to determine the range of motion measurement periods showing significant differences, it was observed that each measurement for both feet yielded lower results than the previous measurement (seven measurements from day 1 to day 13). The use of heel protector boots was found to be effective in preventing the development of heel pressure injuries and plantar flexion contractures in intensive care unit patients. This study provides evidence that intensive care nurses can use heel protector boots to prevent the development of heel pressure injuries and plantar flexion contractures.

Pressure injury prevalence in critical care settings: An observational pre-post intervention study.

To explore pressure injury prevention practices and evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on PI prevalence before and after an educational intervention. A multi-centre observational study. Data were collected at two time points in May 2021 and April 2022 using a Qualtrics® online form. Two Registered Nurses at each site collected observational data at each time point by diagnosing and staging any identified pressure injuries as part of a prevalence study. Patients admitted to participating units were included. A total of 181 patients in critical care units were included at the two-time points. Pressure injury prevalence was 60.9% at the outset, with 52.9% hospital-acquired, 37.9% unit-acquired and 23.0% medical device-related. Post-intervention prevalence decreased significantly to 28.7%, including 21.3% hospital-acquired, 14.9% unit-acquired, and 8.5% medical device-related. Pressure injuries were prominent in the sacral region, head area, and heels. Stages I and II pressure injuries were the most common. Increased age and longer ICU stays are linked to a heightened risk of pressure injury development in critically ill patients, whereas higher haemoglobin levels show an inverse relationship with the development of both pressure injury and severe stages in the univariate analysis. The predictive models revealed that increased age and longer ICU stays are predictors for both pressure injury development and progression to severe stages, while Braden scores predict the likelihood of developing severe stages of pressure injuries. This study has identified a benchmark for pressure injury prevalence in critical care units in Saudi Arabia. The results demonstrate that pressure injuries can be prevented in critically ill patients when evidence-based education strategies are implemented. Pressure injuries are an important issue for critically ill patients and can be prevented with proper investments. Strategies to prevent pressure injuries from admission will result in fewer pressure injuries. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist. No patient or public contribution.

The effect of wheelchair cushion properties on the microclimate at the cushion-user interface: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pressure injuries are a preventable yet highly prevalent health concern. Wheelchair cushion prescription can have significant implications for wheelchair users' risk of pressure injury development, which can impact functional abilities and quality of life. The efficacy of a wheelchair cushion to redistribute pressure has been well-researched, but the efficacy to manage the microclimate is less clear, particularly in warm-hot environments. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies examining the effect of wheelchair cushions on temperature, moisture and thermal perception to determine which cushions are superior to improve these responses. A systematic review with meta-analyses of randomised cross-over and randomised control trials of wheelchair cushion interventions on measures of temperature, moisture, and thermal perception was conducted. Eight studies were identified that met the eligibility criteria and six meta-analyses were conducted. Pooled analyses identified a significantly lower temperature on foam-gel cushions compared to air cushions (MD = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.29; p = 0.002) and a significantly lower temperature on foam-gel cushions compared to foam cushions (SMD = 0.76, 95%CI; 0.45, 1.06; p < 0.00001). Pooled analyses also demonstrated significantly lower relative humidity (i.e., moisture) on foam cushions compared to foam-gel cushions (p = 0.02). Differences in thermal perception were inconclusive due to limited data found. It is clear that not one cushion is ideal in managing all aspects of microclimate, as foam-gel cushions were the superior cushion to manage temperature and foam cushions were the superior cushion to manage moisture. This article provides occupational therapists and other health professionals with evidence-based information to assist with wheelchair cushion prescription that minimises the temperature and moisture accumulation, and associated risk of pressure injury for wheelchair users.

Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Care Bundle for Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries in High-Risk Surgical Patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based care bundle to prevent perioperative pressure injuries. In a single facility, using a preintervention and postintervention quasi-experimental design, we compared the pressure injury incidence rate for two patient groups (ie, before and after care bundle implementation). The bundle included a variety of elements, such as educating patients, applying protection, controlling skin moisture, and using pressure-relieving devices according to the patient's risk. Before the intervention, patients received standard care before procedures that did not address risk for pressure injury development. The study involved a total of 944 patients, and the incidence of pressure injury was lower in the postintervention group than in the preintervention group (1.6% versus 4.8%; P<.001). However, the odds ratio was nonsignificant and therefore the clinical relevance of the bundle is unclear. Additional research with a control group and multiple sites is needed.

Safe Patient Handling and Pressure Injury Prevention for Patients With Delayed Sternal Closure.

Pressure injuries are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost. Patients with delayed sternal closure after cardiac surgery are at increased risk of developing pressure injury because of their reduced mobility and inability to undergo complete skin assessment. Safe patient handling of patients with delayed sternal closure is challenging because of mobility restrictions, leading to increased risk for patient and staff harm. An interprofessional team composed of bedside nurses, ergonomic specialists, a wound ostomy continence nurse, and cardiothoracic surgeons developed a patient mobility protocol for patients with delayed sternal closure consisting of levitating the patient for thorough skin assessment and care. A multimodal educational strategy was used to disseminate the new protocol. Patient information was collected on the type of surgery, results of the levitation, completion of the skin assessment, and subsequent interventions. Staff injury related to this work was monitored. After implementation of the protocol, 84 levitations were performed including 50 patients. No staff injuries were reported. Comprehensive skin assessments and care were completed for 98% of patients. Five patients were identified with pressure injury development, and appropriate interventions were applied. A standardized patient mobility protocol for patients with delayed sternal closure that leveraged available equipment was successful in reducing the risk for injury among staff and patients. The protocol allowed assessment and care and thus also reduced the risk for pressure injury development in these patients. Development of an innovative protocol to safely mobilize patients with delayed sternal closure resulted in improved patient care and increased staff safety.

Variations in sacral sub-epidermal moisture measurements in hospitalized medical and surgical patients: A longitudinal observational sub-study

BackgroundPressure injury risk assessment tools have several well-known limitations. As a result, new methods of assessing risk are emerging, including the use of sub-epidermal moisture measurement to detect localized edema. AimsTo assess the daily variation in sacral sub-epidermal moisture measurement over five days and establish if age and prophylactic sacral dressing use influenced these measurements. MethodsAs part of a larger randomized controlled trial of the use of prophylactic sacral dressings, a longitudinal observational substudy was undertaken in hospitalized medical and surgical adult patients at risk of pressure injury. The substudy was conducted in consecutively recruited patients from 20 May 2021 to 9 November 2022. Using the SEM 200 (Bruin Biometrics LLC), daily sacral sub-epidermal measurements for up to five days were completed. Two measurements were generated, the most recent sub-epidermal moisture measurement and, after at least three measurements, a delta value, the difference between the highest and lowest values. The delta measurement was the outcome, with a delta of ≥0.60 considered abnormal, increasing the risk of pressure injury development. A mixed analysis of covariance was undertaken to determine if there was any change in delta measurements over the five days and to determine if age and sacral prophylactic dressing use influenced sub-epidermal moisture delta measurement. ResultsA total of 392 participants were included in this study; 160 (40.8%) patients had completed five consecutive days of sacral sub-epidermal moisture delta measurements. In total, 1324 delta measurements were undertaken across the five study days. In total, 325 of 392 patients (82.9%) had experienced one or more abnormal delta. Furthermore, 191 (48.7%) and 96 (24.5%) of patients experienced abnormal deltas for two or more and three or more consecutive days. There was no statistically significant variation in sacral sub-epidermal moisture delta measurements over time; increasing age and prophylactic dressing use did not influence sub-epidermal moisture deltas over the five days. ConclusionIf only one abnormal delta was used as a trigger, about 83% of patients would have received additional pressure injury prevention strategies. But, if a more nuanced approach to responding to abnormal deltas is taken, between 25 and 50% of patients may receive additional pressure injury prevention, representing a more time and resource efficient approach. Tweetable abstractSub-epidermal moisture delta measurements did not vary over 5 days; increasing age and prophylactic dressing use did not influence these measurements.

Data-driven approach to predicting the risk of pressure injury: A retrospective analysis based on changes in patient conditions.

To determine the risk of pressure injury development in the intensive care unit based on changes in patient conditions. This retrospective study was based on secondary data analysis. Patient data from electronic health records were retrospectively obtained and we included 438 and 1752 patients with and without pressure injury, respectively, among those admitted to the medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) from January 2017-February 2020. Changes in patient conditions were analysed based on the first and last objective data values from the day of ICU admission to the day before the onset of pressure injury and categorised as follows: improved, maintained normal, exacerbated and unchanged. Logistic regression was performed to identify the significant predictors of pressure injury development based on 11 variables. The 11 selected variables were age, body mass index, activity, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score, nursing severity level, pulse and albumin, haematocrit, C-reactive protein, total bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen levels. The risk for a pressure injury was high with exacerbation of or persistently abnormal levels of nursing severity, albumin, haematocrit, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen and pulse >100 beat/min. Periodic monitoring of haematological variables is important for preventing pressure injury in the intensive care unit. The study followed STROBE guidelines. This study contributes to the utilisation of patient data from electronic health records. In addition to other pressure injury risk assessment tools, ICU nurses can help prevent pressure injuries by assessing patients' blood test results, thereby promoting patient safety and enhancing the efficacy of nursing practice.

Determining the Risk of Intraoperative Pressure Injury in Patients Undergoing Elective Cranial Surgery

Purpose: Neurosurgical interventions are long and complex, and additional difficulties are encountered in positioning in the operating room.The aim of the study is to determine the risk of pressure injury development in the intraoperative period of patients undergoing elective cranial surgery. &#x0D; Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 127 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent elective cranial surgery in a city hospital between September and October 2021. 3S Operating Room Pressure Injury Risk Diagnostic Scale were used to collect data. &#x0D; Results: It was determined that 55.1% of the patients were female, their mean age was 53.22±13.47 years, and 61.4% had at least one chronic disease. It was determined that 71.7% of the patients were operated with the diagnosis of cerebellar tumor. Stage 1 pressure ulcers were observed in 37% of the patients. It was determined that the total score obtained from the scale was 14.87±2.83 and the patients were at low risk for pressure injury. Age, body mass index and duration of the surgical procedure were found to be independent factors affecting the patients' operating room pressure ulcer risk assessment scale score. &#x0D; Conclusion:It was determined that the risk of pressure injury in patients who underwent cranial surgery was low level.

Neuromuscular blocking agents and opioids are major risk factors for developing pressure injuries in patients in the intensive care unit.

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for developing pressure injuries, which can cause severe complications and even increase the mortality risk. Therefore, prevention of pressure injuries is most important. In this study, we investigated the risk factors of pressure injury development in patients admitted to the ICU. We retrospectively analyzed patients ages &gt; 18 years admitted to the medical ICU in a tertiary hospital between January and December 2019. We collected patient baseline characteristics, medications received, mechanical ventilation or hemodialysis use, laboratory findings, and date of pressure injury onset and characteristics. We analyzed 666 patients who did not have pressure injuries at ICU admission. Pressure injuries developed in 102 patients (15%). The risk of pressure injury development increased as the administration days for neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs; odds ratio [OR], 1.138; p = 0.019) and opioids (OR, 1.084; p = 0.028) increased, and if the patient had problem with friction and shear (OR, 2.203; p = 0.011). The prolonged use of NMBAs and opioids can increase the risk of pressure injury development. Because these medications are associated with immobilization, using both should be minimized and patient early mobilization should be promoted. Among the Braden subscales, "friction and shear" was associated with the development of pressure injuries in ICU patients.

The Ability of the Malnutrition Screening Tool and the Braden Nutrition Score to Identify Risk of Pressure Injury Development in Hospitalized Patients

The Ability of the Malnutrition Screening Tool and the Braden Nutrition Score to Identify Risk of Pressure Injury Development in Hospitalized Patients

Evaluation of protein intake and risk of pressure injury development in hospitalized patients

Rationale: Pressure injury (PI) is a tissue damage that will compromise nutritional status and worsen clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients. The inadequate supply of nutrients, especially proteins, may contribute to this occurrence. The main objective of this work was to assess protein inadequacy and the risk of developing PI.

Shifting loads as a result of chair articulations and associated perfusion responses in the context of pressure injuries: An investigation with able-bodied individuals

Wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries experience pressure injuries at high rates, causing a decrease in quality of life and an increased financial burden. The soft tissue in the buttocks (beneath the ischial tuberosities) and lower back (behind the sacrum) experience large interface pressures over long periods while seated, putting them at high risk of pressure injury development. The goals of this research were to evaluate the ability of an articulating chair design to redistribute pressures on the body and to affect blood perfusion in the buttocks tissue over the ischial tuberosities. Using a unique, custom-designed chair developed for this research, pressure and blood perfusion were obtained for numerous seated positions that included recline, seat pan tilt, and back articulations. Reclining the chair back increased maximum pressures in the buttocks and lower back regions, while it decreased maximum pressures in the upper back and thigh regions. Increasing seat pan tilt, or rotating the anterior edge of the seat pan above the posterior edge, decreased maximum pressures in the buttocks and lower back regions and increased perfusion in the buttocks. Results suggested that using back recline and seat pan tilt together to create a whole-body tilt increased pressures in the back and decreased pressures in the buttocks. Changes in back articulation redistributed pressure in all back regions. Thus, the articulating chair design redistributed pressures in all areas of the body and promoted blood perfusion in the buttocks while seated. Pressure redistribution and perfusion promotion are fundamental to reducing pressure injury risk.

Relationship Between Smoking and Pressure Injury Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Smoking is a risk factor for many diseases. This study explored the relationship between current or past smoking and pressure injury (PI) risk through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for the years between 2001 and 2020. Quality of evidence was estimated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The random effects model was applied to assess the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI); pooled adjusted OR and 95% CI, subgroup analysis, publication bias, sensitivity analyses, and meta-regression analysis were performed. Fifteen (15) studies (12 retrospective and 3 prospective) comprising data on 11 304 patients were eligible for inclusion in the review. The meta-analysis demonstrated that smoking increased the risk of PI (OR = 1.498; 95% CI, 1.058-2.122), and the pooled adjusted OR (1.969) and 95% CI (1.406-2.757) confirmed this finding. Publication bias was not detected by funnel plot, Begg's test (P = .322), or Egger's test (P = .666). Subgroup analyses yielded the same observations in both retrospective (OR = 1.607; 95% CI, 1.043-2.475) and prospective (OR = 1.218; 95% CI, 0.735-2.017) studies. The results were consistent across sensitivity analyses (OR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.043- 2.475). Relevant heterogeneity moderators were not identified by meta-regression analysis with PI incidence (P = .466), years of patient data included (P = .637), mean patient age (P = .650), and diabetes mellitus diagnosis (P = .509). This study found that individuals who are current or formers smokers have an almost 1.5 times higher risk of PI development than do those who do not smoke.

Supervised machine learning-based prediction for in-hospital pressure injury development using electronic health records: A retrospective observational cohort study in a university hospital in Japan

BackgroundIn hospitals, nurses are responsible for pressure injury risk assessment using several kinds of risk assessment scales. However, their predictive validity is insufficient to initiate targeted preventive strategy for each patient. The use of electronic health records with machine learning technique is a promising strategy to provide automated clinical decision-making aid. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to construct a predictive model for pressure injury development which included feature variables that can be collected on the first day of hospitalization by nurses who routinely input the data to electronic health records. DesignRetrospective observational cohort study. SettingThis study was conducted at a university hospital in Japan. ParticipantsThis study used electronic health records, which include entry/discharge records, basic nursing records, and pressure injury management documents (N = 75,353). MethodsThe outcome measure was the pressure injuries which developed outside of an operation theatre and frequently appeared on the specific body parts at high risk of pressure injury development. We utilized four major classifiers: logistic regression, random forest, linear support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) with 5-fold cross-validation technique. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used for evaluating predictive performance. ResultsThe proportion of hospital-acquired pressure injuries was 0.52%. The receiver operating characteristic curves revealed the best predictive performance for the XGBoost model, achieving the highest sensitivity of 0.78±0.03 and AUC of 0.80±0.02 amongst four types of classifiers. Variables related to difficulty in activities of daily living, anorexia, and respiratory or cardiac disorders were extracted as important features. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that routinely collected health data by nurses on the first day of patient admission have the potential to help determine high-risk patients for pressure injury development.Tweetable abstract: Machine learning models on routinely collected electronic health records data successfully predict pressure injury development during hospitalization. FundingThis work was supported by a JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (16K15865).

Relationship between a pressure redistributing foam mattress and pressure injuries: An observational prospective cohort study.

Background and purposePressure injuries remain a significant health care issue in various settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a pressure redistributing foam mattress (PRFM) and the development of pressure injuries.MethodsThis study employed an observational prospective cohort study design. We enrolled 254 participants from the intensive care unit who were at risk of developing pressure injuries. Participants were exposed to either a nonpressure redistributing foam mattress (NPRFM), which was the standard mattress used at the study site, or a PRFM made of viscoelastic, temperature-sensitive, polyurethane memory foam. The patients’ assignment to either a PRFM or NPRFM was performed upon their admission, before the study eligibility screening. The relationship between the PRFM and the development of pressure injuries was studied using a logistic regression model.ResultsThe overall incidence of pressure injuries was 5.9% (15/254) in our study, with 1.6% (2/127) for participants who used a PRFM and 10.2% (13/127) for those using a NPRFM. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, use of a PRFM was associated with an 88% reduced risk of pressure injury development (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.56, P = 0.007). The use of a PRFM also contributed to a postponed occurrence of pressure injuries by 4.2 days on average in comparison with that of a NPRFM (P = 0.041).ConclusionsA PRFM is associated with a significantly reduced incidence and postponed occurrence of pressure injuries. It is recommended to use a PRFM for patients at risk of developing pressure injuries.

Pressure injury development in critically ill patients with a cervical collar in situ: A retrospective longitudinal study.

Trauma patients with a serious injury to the head or neck can remain immobilised with a cervical collar (C-collar) device in situ and are subsequently exposed to device-related skin integrity threats. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of C-collar-related pressure injures (CRPIs) in an intensive care unit. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted in an Australian metropolitan intensive care unit. Following ethical approval, data from patients over 18 years, who received a C-collar were retrieved over a 9-year period. Chi square and t-tests were used to identify variables associated with CRPI development. A logistic regression model was employed to analyse the risk factors. Data from 906 patients were analysed. Nine-year pressure injury incidence was 16.9% (n = 154/906). Pressure injury development directly associated with a C-collar increased by 33% with each repositioning episode (odds ratio 1.328, 95% confidence interval 1.024-1.723, P = .033). Time in the C-collar (10.4 to 2.5 days, P = .002) and length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (20.1 to 16.1 days, P < .001) were associated with pressure injury development. Patients with C-collar devices are a vulnerable group at risk for pressure injury development because of their immobility and length of ICU stay.

Abstract QS34: The Effect of Quality Improvement Interventions in the Prevention of Pressure Injuries in Critically Ill Patients

PURPOSE: Pressure injuries cause a significant health and economic burden. Quality improvement projects focusing on pressure injury prevention have been effective in reducing pressure injury in critically ill patients. The purpose of this project was to implement evidence based quality improvement interventions in critically ill patients and prospectively evaluate whether this led to a decrease in significant pressure injury incidence. METHODS: A combined retrospective and prospective cohort study was performed in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Retrospective data served as control (pre-intervention). Data obtained prospectively allowed for assessment of intervention effectiveness (post-intervention). Variables collected during both study periods included: demographics, pressure injury risk assessment, and daily pressure injury grading. Significant pressure injury was defined as pressure injury grades of 3, 4, unstageable, or deep tissue injury. The intervention bundle consisted of a multimodal approach that encompassed all five evidence-based interventions: leadership initiatives, visual tools, pressure injury staging, skin care, and nutrition. Compliance with implementation of interventions was assessed via self-reported questionnaires and staff feedback was collected anonymously for protocol optimization. Differences between pre-intervention versus post-intervention were assessed with 2-sample t-test for continuous variables or by Fisher’s exact test or chi-square test for discrete variables with p-value = 0.05. Cox proportional hazards model was used to explore risk factors associated with development of pressure injuries. RESULTS: 505 patients were admitted to the SICU during the 12 month study period, 172 patients in first 4 months prior to and 333 patients in remaining 8 months following implementation of interventions. Patients in the post-intervention cohort were significantly older and had significantly higher rates of vasopressor use and shock or need for resuscitation upon admission. Despite the higher number of risk indicators and higher age of the post-intervention group, a decrease in significant pressure injury incidence was observed from pre-intervention to post-intervention. SICU staff reported compliance with implementation of interventions 80% of the time. After adjusting for time-dependent covariates and baseline differences, the following variables were found to be significant in pressure injury development: shock or resuscitation (HR = 2.4, p = 0.016), vasopressor use (HR = 2.5, p = 0.012), history of diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.6, p = 0.005), serum glucose levels on admission (HR = 2.7, p = 0.007), and total Braden scale score (HR = 0.79, p = <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Several unavoidable comorbidities were associated with higher risk of pressure injury development while higher Braden scale score was associated with a lower risk of pressure injury development. Implementation of evidence based quality improvement interventions for pressure injury prevention were effective in decreasing significant pressure injury incidence in critically ill patients. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of the interventions long-term.

Pressure injury risk assessment and prevention strategies in operating room patients – findings from a study tour of novel practices in American hospitals

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) lead to complications such as increased pain, increased bed days, re-admissions, multiple surgical interventions, possible disfigurement, decreased quality of life, increased healthcare cost and mortality. There are several factors specific to the operating room suite which increase the risk of pressure injury development. Highlighting the need for OR specific pressure injury risk assessment tools. Research indicates that pressure injuries occurring in the OR can appear up to 48-72 hours post-surgery, thus the incidence of pressure injury originating in the OR is likely to be higher than is currently reported. Facilities in the USA are now attributing pressure injuries that appear 72 hours post-surgery to the care the patient received in the ORS.A study tour to the United States of America in 2017 discovered there are two pressure injury risk assessment tools for the operating room patient and numerous prevention strategies to minimise the risk of pressure injuries developing in the OR.

Alternating Pressure Overlay for Prevention of Intraoperative Pressure Injury

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a low-profile alternating pressure (AP) overlay system on hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Prospective case series with historical controls. The study setting was the operating room and critical care unit of an urban quaternary care hospital in the Midwestern United States. One hundred neurosurgery patients undergoing surgery for 2 hours or longer in supine position were included in the study (AP group). The outcomes for the AP group were compared to a historical control group of 292 patients. A group of 100 patients were prospectively placed on the AP overlay during surgery. Participants were enrolled preoperatively and tracked by the research team during their hospital stay. Demographic data, details of the operation, and pressure injury risk factors were recorded. Following surgery, AP group patients were evaluated daily and continued on standard protocol for pressure injury prevention. The primary study outcome was HAPI rate during the perioperative period (up to 5 days postsurgery) for the AP group (plus standard of care) compared to the standard of care alone (historical control). Control group data were extracted from electronic health records for the prior 2 years. A written questionnaire was given to the care team that used the AP technology; items queried the degree of acceptance of the overlay by surgeons and the operating room and intensive care unit (ICU) staff. None of the patients in the AP group developed perioperative pressure injuries. Review of historical control group revealed a 6% perioperative pressure injury incidence (18 pressure injuries in a group of 292 patients). Responses on the written questionnaire indicated that the AP technology was well accepted by surgeons and the operating room and ICU staff. There were no adverse events. Study findings suggest that AP overlay system can safely and reliably be used during neurological surgeries. Findings further suggest that using the AP product may improve outcomes with respect to perioperative HAPIs, including patients deemed at high risk for pressure injury development. Further studies are underway to evaluate the use of this AP overlay system beyond the operating room for more comprehensive care.

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points