Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of peristomal skin lesions by remote imaging: An expert validation study.

BACKGROUND: Prevention and treatment of peristomal skin problems should be a priority for nurses caring for ostomates, even when the assessment of lesions must be done remotely. OBJECTIVE: To measure the level of agreement on assessment, diagnosis and care indications for peristomal skin lesions using remote imaging among nurses in Spain. DESIGN: Prospective observational multicentre study to assess the diagnostic validity and inter- and intraobserver agreement between nurses in peristomal skin lesions. Data were collected between March and October 2019. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The research sample consisted of a group of 39 nurses with expertise in the care of ostomates. METHODS: A panel of experts established a list of 24 common signs/findings, 15 diagnostic options and 35 treatment approaches for peristomal skin lesions. Three expert stoma therapy nurses compiled the clinical cases, which they described thoroughly and documented with photographs. The 39 participating nurses evaluated the cases in two rounds to measure inter and intraobserver agreement. RESULTS: A high or very high level of agreement (κ > 0.61) was observed for the following signs: encrustation, nodules, mucocutaneous separation and varicose veins; for the following diagnoses: mucocutaneous dehiscence, allergic contact dermatitis, encrustation and varicose veins (caput medusae); for the following treatments: recommending a diet rich in vitamin C/blueberries, applying acetic acid dressings, applying cold and topical tacrolimus treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The most easily identifiable lesions were those most prevalent and with visible signs. There was a lower level of agreement in identifying lesions for which photographs required additional information (laboratory data, description of signs and symptoms, type of diet and level of self-care). It is important to train nurses caring for ostomates to correctly describe ostomy-related lesions, which is important for nursing records, continuity of care and telehealth care.

Análisis de los criterios del profesional de Enfermería sobre la aplicación de los dispositivos de ostomía en cada momento del proceso asistencial / Analysis of the criteria by Nursing professionals regarding the application of ostomy devices at each moment of the care process

Objetivo: analizar la opinión y los criterios de los profesionales de Enfermería sobre la aplicación de los dispositivos de ostomía en cada momento del proceso asistencial teniendo en cuenta las características de la ostomía y del paciente. Método: estudio descriptivo transversal multicéntrico a partir de una encuesta nacional realizada a profesionales de Enfermería implicados en el cuidado a pacientes ostomizados. Resultados: a pesar de la disponibilidad de todo tipo de dispositivos de ostomías en la mayoría de los centros, a partir del ingreso en hospitalización, se instruye al paciente habitualmente en el manejo de dispositivos de dos piezas, lo que explicaría su mayor frecuencia de uso. Discusión y conclusiones: se han encontrado exposiciones de casos clínicos o investigaciones promovidas por la industria en los que no se justifica el uso de los dispositivos empleados, sino las características de estos mismos. Realizar una encuesta de ámbito nacional ofrece una visión global de los criterios que siguen los profesionales de Enfermería en el cuidado y manejo del paciente ostomizado y en la elección y/o el cambio de dispositivo de ostomía.(AU)

Objective: to analyse the opinion and criteria by Nursing professionals regarding the application of ostomy devices at each moment of the care process, considering the characteristics of the ostomy and the patient. Method: a multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study based on a national survey conducted on Nursing professionals involved in care for ostomized patients. Results: regardless of the availability of all type of devices in most centres, patients are usually trained from their admission to hospital in the use of two-piece devices, which would explain their higher frequency of use. Discussion and conclusions: there have been clinical case reports or research studies promoted by the industry with the characteristics of the devices but no justification for their use. A nationwide survey offers an overall view of the criteria followed by Nursing professionals for the care and management of ostomized patients and their choice and/or replacement of ostomy devices.(AU)

Use of topical sevoflurane in pressure ulcer treatment in a double-lung transplant patient.

Pain caused by wounds of different etiology is usually treated with oral analgesics. New topical use of products such as the ether anesthetic sevoflurane shows good results for pain control and has additional benefits. Pressure ulcers are painful and patients may benefit from the use of sevoflurane. We present the case of a double-lung transplant patient with a long-standing sacral pressure ulcer with poor pain control, for which sevoflurane dressings were used. The number of pain-free hours after application, the amount of daily analgesics and the size of the wound were monitored with the mobile wound application MOWA. After several days of sevoflurane application, the patient reduced analgesic consumption, remained longer free of pain, and the size of the wound decreased. Unfortunately, the patient had serious complications due to multiple comorbidities and died before the wound healed completely. Topical use of sevoflurane in pressure ulcers may be a good option to treat pain and improve patient quality of life.