Risk factors associated with intraoperatively acquired pressure ulcers in the park ‐bench position: a retrospective study

This study was conducted at a general hospital during the period of September 2010 to September 2012. Twenty‐one potential risk factors were evaluated using data obtained from the hospital database. IAPUs developed in 30 of 277 patients (11%). Perspiration was statistically found to be independently associated with IAPUs [OR 3·09, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.07–8·58, P = 0·037]. A length of surgery of more than 6 hours was identified to be likely associated with IAPUs (OR 2·64, 95% Cl 0·84–9·08, P = 0·095) compared with less than 6 hours. Furthermore, there was an interaction between the length of surgery and the core temperature; that is, when the length of surgery was more than 6 hours, a core temperature of more than 38·1°C at the end of surgery had a higher odds ratio (8·45, 95% Cl 3·04–27·46, P < 0·001) than that at a lower core temperature (3·20, 95% Cl 1·23–8·78, P = 0·017). These results suggest that perspiration and core temperature are preventable causative factors of pressure ulcers, even under conditions of prolonged surgery in the park‐bench position.
Source: International Wound Journal - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research