An integrative review of pressure relief in surgical patients

Effective patient positioning has been an important issue throughout the history of the nursing profession. Pressure ulcers result from prolonged pressure, which causes skin, tissue, or muscle damage. Surgical patients present a unique challenge in preventing pressure ulcers because they are immobile and unable to perceive the discomfort of prolonged pressure. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine risk factors associated with pressure ulcer development in surgical patients and to examine pressure-relieving support surfaces to determine if they significantly reduce intraoperative tissue pressure and result in a lower incidence of postoperative pressure ulcers. Most of the research focuses on long-term care units, with little attention given to the acute care setting. Although the pathophysiology and etiology of pressure ulcers are well documented by years of research, the OR as an etiologic factor is largely undefined.