Assessing and managing pressure ulcers

Assessing and managing pressure ulcers

Though there is no overall consensus on the optimum management of pressure ulcers, there is clinical support for specific prevention and treatment strategies.1

Prevention Assessment Management

PREVENTION OF PRESSURE ULCERS

Early intervention offers an opportunity for preventing pressure ulcers.1

Prevention strategies include:1

  • Assessing the risk of pressure ulcer development
  • Maintaining skin integrity
  • Limiting bed rest
  • Reducing pressure
  • Managing nutrition

Risk assessment tools, such as Waterlow, Norton and Braden scale, are commonly used to identify a patients’ susceptibility to developing a pressure ulcer. These should act as an aide memoire and should not replace clinical judgement.

Back to Top

ASSESSMENT OF PRESSURE ULCERS2

The 1st stage in management is assessment which should include:

  • Assessment of pressure ulcer:
    • Location, stage of healing, wound conditions (such as exudate level), integrity of surrounding skin, pain
    • Re-assessment of the pressure ulcer should be performed regularly
  • Assessment of the patient:
    • Nutritional status
    • Pain related to pressure ulcer or treatment
    • Psychosocial status
Back to Top

MANAGEMENT OF PRESSURE ULCERS1,2

There are many considerations for the management of pressure ulcers, a number of which are below:

  • Relieve pressure, shear and friction
    • Pressure relieving devices have a role to play, though there is no clear evidence supporting one device over another
    • Manual repositioning
  • Optimize wound healing through appropriate wound dressings
  • Debride the wound of necrotic tissue
  • Manage the bacterial burden in the wound
  • Ensure healthy nutritional status of patient

Closure of pressure ulcers through surgical intervention can help in the management of pressure ulcers. The main problem with this treatment strategy is related to patient tolerance.1

Back to Top

References [+]

  1. Thomas DR. Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: what works? what doesn't? Cleve Clin J Med. 2001;68(8):704-707, 710-714, 717-722.
  2. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Pressure ulcer treatment guidelines. 1998. http://www.epuap.org/gltreatment.html. Accessed November 30, 2007.

Print this content

Send to a friend [+]


Thank you for sharing ConvaTec content across the internet. In order for us to send the request we will need you to provide the following information.
*Sender name:
*E-mail from:
*E-mail to: