Leaving a mark: pressure injury research in the intensive care unit

Excerpt

Pressure injuries (PIs), previously known as pressure ulcers, are a common hospital-acquired condition resulting in a significant physical, emotional and financial costs [1]. Often occurring at bony prominences, PIs comprise localized lesions to the skin and/or underlying tissue caused by mechanical forces (i.e., pressure, friction, shear) or a medical device. PI risk factors across intensive care unit (ICU) studies include age, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypotension, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged admission [2]. PIs are classified by severity and range from Stage I “non-blanchable erythema” to Stage IV “full thickness tissue loss” in addition to unstageable injury and mucosal injury [3]. Severe PIs (Stages III–IV, unstageable) are more common among ICU patients compared to general hospital patients and have the highest treatment costs [4]. …