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Pressure ulcers, also referred to as pressure sores, bedsores and decubitus ulcers, can range from a very mild pink coloration of the skin, which disappears in a few hours after the pressure is relieved, to a very deep wound extending to and in very serious cases sometimes through a bone and into internal organs. There are many similarities to burn wounds in terms of the course of injury, but the primary cause of pressure ulcers is unrelieved pressure to the skin, while secondary causes include exposure to cold or skin abrasion. Other contributing factors to the development of pressure ulcers include poor nutrition, weight loss and diabetes, all of which are prevalent in the modern developed world.
This book will establish the clinical and scientific basis behind effective pressure ulcer management. Aimed squarely at dermatology clinicians and vascular surgeons, this text is designed to be the primary reference for pressure ulcers from diagnosis and prevention to management and treatment options. In addition, dermatology nursing and clinic staff and interns will also gain much from reading this text. The contributing authors are all experts in the management of pressure ulcers and will provide a valuable clinical compendium for this difficult area of medicine.
List of contents
Pressure Ulcer, the Scale of the Problem.- Pressure Ulcer Patients' Quality of Life from a Nurse's Perspective.- Recent Advances in Pressure Ulcer Research.- Etiology and Risk Factors.- Pressure Ulcer Classification.- Risk Assessment Scales for Predicting the Risk of Developing Pressure Ulcers.- Equipment Selection.- Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Repositioning.- Skin Care.- Pressure Ulcers and Nutrition: A New European Guideline.- Clinical and Instrumental Assessment of Pressure Ulcers.- Pressure Ulcers and Wound Bed Preparation.- Conservative Management of Pressure Ulcers.- Surgical Management of Pressure Ulcers.- Debridement of Pressure Ulcers.- The Role of Bacteria in Pressure Ulcers.- Litigation.- The Development, Dissemination, and Use of Pressure Ulcer Guidelines.- Developing a Research Agenda.- The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel: A Means of Identifying and Dealing with a Major Health Problem with a European Initiative.- Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management in the Developing World: The Developed World Must Provide Leadership.- Innovation in Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management.
Summary
Pressure ulcers, also referred to as pressure sores, bedsores and decubitus ulcers, can range from a very mild pink coloration of the skin, which disappears in a few hours after the pressure is relieved, to a very deep wound extending to and in very serious cases sometimes through a bone and into internal organs. There are many similarities to burn wounds in terms of the course of injury, but the primary cause of pressure ulcers is unrelieved pressure to the skin, while secondary causes include exposure to cold or skin abrasion. Other contributing factors to the development of pressure ulcers include poor nutrition, weight loss and diabetes, all of which are prevalent in the modern developed world.
This book will establish the clinical and scientific basis behind effective pressure ulcer management. Aimed squarely at dermatology clinicians and vascular surgeons, this text is designed to be the primary reference for pressure ulcers from diagnosis and prevention to management and treatment options. In addition, dermatology nursing and clinic staff and interns will also gain much from reading this text. The contributing authors are all experts in the management of pressure ulcers and will provide a valuable clinical compendium for this difficult area of medicine.
