Related Experiment Videos
Backside first in head and neck surgery?: preventing pressure ulcers in extended length surgeries
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-4283, USA. chaliana@mail.med.upenn.edu
Head & Neck
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Implementing a fluid pressure-reducing operating room (OR) mattress significantly reduced intraoperative pressure ulcers in extended length head and neck surgeries, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Patient Safety
- Medical Device Performance
- Pressure Injury Prevention
Background:
- The operating room (OR) is a high-risk setting for pressure injuries.
- Extended length head and neck surgeries for malignancies (ELS) pose unique challenges for pressure ulcer prevention.
- Intraoperative pressure ulcers are an underrecognized but significant patient care issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a fluid pressure-reducing operating room (OR) mattress in preventing intraoperative pressure ulcers.
- To improve performance in pressure ulcer prevention for patients undergoing extended length head and neck surgeries (ELS).
Main Methods:
- A descriptive design was employed to monitor performance improvement.
- A fluid pressure-reducing OR mattress (RIK) was compared to a standard foam OR mattress (Skytron).
- 36 consecutive patients undergoing ELS were evaluated for pressure ulcers immediately and 72 hours postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Patient groups were demographically and surgically comparable.
- Pre-intervention pressure ulcer incidence was 21% (4 of 19 patients).
- Post-intervention, pressure ulcer incidence decreased to 0%.
Conclusions:
- Intraoperative pressure ulcers are a costly complication impacting recovery time and aesthetic outcomes.
- The use of a pressure-reducing fluid mattress effectively achieved the performance improvement objective.
- Findings support the use of pressure-reducing devices in high-risk surgical procedures.