Results of the 1st National Study of Prevalence of PU in Spain

Montserrat Arboix i Perejamo, Joan-Enric Torra i Bou, Justo Rueda López, J. Javier Soldevilla Agreda, Fernando Martínez Cuervo, Fernando García González, Manuel Gago Fornels

SUMMARY

Pressure ulcers (PU) represent today a serious health problem, either because of the wounds themselves or because of the repercussions for patients and their caring environment, plus the legal and economic implications. In this report, the problem of ulcers in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) is assessed. Up to 70% of these patients show this type of wounds during their first two weeks at the units, when the patient’s condition is most serious, increasing the risk of complications that can even lead to death. It must be realised that the ICU patient suffers from hypercatabolism, which added to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are also afecting the patient, have a negative effect on the development of PU.

Although PU have multiple causes, there is evidence which shows that up to 95% of PU can be avoided if the appropriate resources are used. That is the reason why the first approach would be the implementation of preventive measures, using adequate products for skin care (among these, it can be pointed out the use of barrier preparations and hyperoxygenated fatty acids which can prevent and reverse stage I PU), local devices to relieve pressure on risk zones and special support surfaces to assist in the management of pressure (SSAMP). And it is in these special technically developed units, where, despite the high incidence of PU (17%-21%), less is invested to solve this problem.

KEY WORDS

Pressure ulcers, intensive care units.

Vol. 15 nº3-2004