Predicting Risk Factors for Pressure Sores in Patients Undergoing Operations: A Prospective Study

Pak, Soon Mi; Jun, Seong Sook

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors predictive of alterations in skin integrity during the intraoperative period. The predictive risk factors were studied for intraoperative pressure sores from December 1998 through January 1999. A sample of 220 patients was selected from the operating room schedule of a University Hospital in Pusan. There were two criteria in including patients : the operation lasted longer than 2 hours and the absence of skin break down according to NPUAP criteria. The data were analyzed by SPSS/PC, Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to identify the variables which were predictive of alterations in skin integrity. Of the 220 patients studied, 41 patients(18.6%) developed stage 1 pressure sores in the immediate postoperative period. In relation to skin changes, three independent variables emerged from the stepwise multiple logistic regression as being significant(p<0.05). Factors predictive of pressure sore formation included low serum albumin(p=0.000), prone position while undergoing surgery(p=0.0004), time on the operating table(p=0.0165). Among the intrinsic factors, serum albumin was the most significant causal factor in pressure sores development in the intraoperative period. Pressure and shearing force were the most significant extrinsic factors in pressure sores development. From the results of this study we conclude that the primary nursing goal is the maintenance of the proper patient' position during the intraoperative period. Also imperative for sore prevention is the reduction of surgery time and improving preoperative nutritional status.