What are Pressure Ulcers?

All pressure ulcers result from pressure leading to impaired blood flow.
Many risk factors contribute to the development of pressure ulcers including age, immobility, incontinence, inadequate nutrition, sensory deficiency, multiple comorbidities, circulatory abnormalities, and dehydration.
Tissues are capable to withstanding enormous pressures when brief in duration, but prolonged exposure initiates a downward spiral towards ulceration. Irreversible changes may occur after as little as two hours of uninterrupted pressure (Revis Jr., 2012).
Experts disagree about the avoidability of pressure ulcers. Some experts believe that all pressure ulcers are preventable; others believe that stage III or IV ulcers always result from poor care.
Those who believe that there are unavoidable pressure ulcers believe they develop in patients who are hemodynamically unstable, terminally ill, have certain medical devices in place, and/or are non-compliant with artificial nutrition or repositioning. (Black, et al., 2011).

References

Black, J., Edsberg, L., Baharestani, M., Langemo, D., Goldberg, M., McNichol, L., & Cuddigan, J. (2011, February). Pressure Ulcers: Avoidable or Unavoidable? Retrieved from Ostomy Wound Management: http://www.o-wm.com/content/pressure-ulcers-avoidable-or-unavoidable-results-national-pressure-ulcer-advisory-panel-cons.

Revis Jr., D. R. (2012, October 12). Decubitus Ulcers. Retrieved from Medscape: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/190115-overview.