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Pressure Ulcers: Factors Contributing to Their Development in the OR
Author(s) -
Engels Dawn,
Austin Melody,
McNichol Laurie,
Fencl Jennifer,
Gupta Sat,
Kazi Haseeb
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/j.aorn.2016.01.008
Subject(s) - medicine , chart , surgical procedures , intensive care medicine , population , surgery , emergency medicine , environmental health , statistics , mathematics
The prevention of health care‐associated pressure ulcers (HAPUs) is an important quality measure because HAPUs are considered a never event. The literature suggests that the prevalence rate of pressure ulcers is 8.5% or higher among patients who undergo surgical procedures that last longer than three hours. We performed a retrospective chart review to determine what factors contribute to the development of pressure ulcers in patients who undergo surgical procedures. The sample population included patients who acquired a pressure ulcer that was not present at admission and developed during their postoperative hospital stay. The project revealed consistent risk factors that may contribute to the development of pressure ulcers in patients who have undergone surgical procedures. These findings can drive the implementation of preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of HAPUs associated with surgical procedures.