Lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la dependencia en el paciente crítico pronado. Estudio de incidencia / Dependency-related skin lesions in the prone critical patient. Incidence study

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de las lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la dependencia (LCRD) en los pacientes en decúbito prono (DP) e identificar los factores predisponentes. Método: Estudio descriptivo-longitudinal en 2 unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) polivalentes. Se incluyeron pacientes con ventilación mecánica invasiva y DP, sin lesiones al ingreso. Se registraron 3 tipos de LCRD: (lesiones por presión [LPP], lesiones cutáneas asociadas a la humedad [LESCAH] y lesiones por fricción [LF]), variables demográficas, diagnóstico, estancia, episodios en DP, cambios posturales, APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System), prealbúmina al ingreso, índice de masa corporal (IMC), diabetes, hipertensión arterial, tabaquismo, enfermedad vascular periférica (EVP), fármacos vasoactivos, escala de Braden y mortalidad. Análisis bivariante: prueba de χ2, t-Student o U de Mann-Whitney. Multivariante: regresión logística. Resultados: Se incluyeron 49 pacientes. Se realizaron 170 DP. Aparecieron 41 LCRD en 22 pacientes con una incidencia acumulada del 44,9% (IC 95%: 31,6-58,7). El 63,4% LPP (73,1% faciales; 76,9% categoría II), el 12,2% LESCAH (60% inguinales; 60% categoría II) y el 24,4% LF (50% torácicas; 70% categoría III). La mediana de edad del grupo con lesiones (GCL) fue de 66,5 (61,8-71,3) frente al 64 (43-71) años del grupo sin lesiones (GSL); p=0,04. El 80% del GCL tenía EVP frente al 20% del GSL; p=0,03. La mediana de horas totales en DP del GCL fue de 96,9 (56,1-149,4) frente a 38,2 (18,8-57) del GSL; p<0,001. El análisis multivariante seleccionó horas totales DP (OR: 1,03; IC 95%: 1,01-1,05) y la EVP (OR: 8,9; IC 95%: 1,3-58,9) como factores predisponentes para desarrollar LCRD. Conclusiones: Existe una elevada incidencia de LCRD en DP, mayoritariamente lesiones por presión, aunque de baja severidad. Las horas acumuladas en DP y la enfermedad vascular periférica favorecen su desarrollo.(AU)

Objective: To determine the incidence of dependence-related skin lesions (DRSL) in patients in prone position (PP) and to identify the predisposing factors. Method: Follow-up study in two polyvalent intensive care units. Patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation and PP with no skin lesions on admission were included. We recorded the 3 types of DRSL:(pressure ulcers (PU), moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) and friction injuries (FI)), demographic variables, diagnosis, length of stay, PP episodes, postural changes, APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System), prealbumin level on admission, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hypertension, smoking, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), vasoactive drugs, Braden scale and mortality. Bivariate analysis: Chi-square test, t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Multivariate analysis: logistic regression. Results: Forty nine patients were included and 170 PP were performed. Forty-one DRSL appeared in 22 patients with a cumulative incidence of 44.9% (95% CI: 31.6-58.7). PU accounted for 63.4% (73.1% facial; 76.9% stage II), 12.2% were MASD (60% inguinal; 60% stage II) and 24.4% were FI (50% thoracic; 70% stage III). The median age of the lesion group (LG) was 66.5 (61.8-71.3) vs 64 (43-71) years old in the non-lesion group (NLG), P=.04. Eighty percent of the LG had PVD vs 20% of the NLG, p=0.03. The median total hours on PP of the LG was 96.9 (56.1-149.4) vs 38.2 (18.8-57) of the NIG, P<.001. Multivariate analysis selected total PP hours (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) and PVD (OR: 8.9; 95% CI: 1.3-58.9) as predisposing factors for developing DRSL. Conclusions: There is a high incidence of skin lesions related to prone decubitus dependence, mostly pressure lesions, although of low severity. The accumulated hours in probe position and peripheral vascular disease favor their development.(AU)

Skin problems beneath the breasts of in-patients: the knowledge, opinions and practice of nurses.

A survey of knowledge and nursing practice in relation to sub-mammary skin problems was conducted among ward sisters and primary nurses in one district health authority. Respondents identified a number of characteristics as predisposing factors, with obesity and poor hygiene being mentioned most frequently. A very wide selection of nursing interventions was recommended, with nurses who mentioned pharmacologically active topical preparations reporting a significantly greater number of recurrences among patients than those who relied on less sophisticated regimes. Nurses expressed a variety of opinions about the effect that this condition has on patients, ranging from no effect at all to pain and discomfort. These findings highlight the lack of a coherent strategy for treating this problem and support the continuation of a research programme examining sub-mammary skin problems and the nursing response to them.

The prevalence of skin problems beneath the breasts of in-patients.

The prevalence of sore skin beneath the breasts has not been evaluated previously. One hundred and thirty-one wards in one district were visited, and 11.2% of all adult female patients either had an active lesion or one that had healed during her current admission. The patients tended to be in wards for the elderly or mentally ill, often suffering illnesses which affected their functional ability. It is estimated that approximately 2% of all senile admissions will develop this problem in the first six days.