What are Pressure Ulcers?
5 Facts Criminal Attorneys Should Know About 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.