Medical Device-Related Pressure injuries in adult intensive care units

This study was conducted to examine the development, characteristics, and risk factors of medical device-related pressure injury (MDRPI) in intensive care units (ICU).

The number of individuals admitted to ICU increased in the last years all over the world. In parallel with this need, the frequency of the use of life-support and therapeutic medical devices in the ICU also increases. This situation may lead to the development of MDRPI in the ICU and an increase in its prevalence.

The study, which was conducted observationally, prospectively and descriptively, included 302 patients who were hospitalised in an ICU within a year. The study was reported according to the STROBE Declaration.

It was observed that MDRPI developed in 27.2% of the patients. It was found that MDRPI developed the most in the nose (26.8%) and mouth (15.9%) regions of the patients. It was determined that MDRPI was diagnosed in 28% of the patients within 3-5 days. It was determined that mostly orthopaedic devices (plaster, cervical collar, splint) (62.5%), fasteners (57.1%), non-invasive ventilation/oxygen masks (51.2%) caused the development of MDRPI. It was found that the number of medical devices used was higher, and the number of hospitalisation days in the ICU was also higher, and these factors explained 28.3% of the total variance in the development of MDRPI.

It was determined that MDRPI developed in approximately one of four patients in the ICU and that the numbers of medical devices and hospitalisation days were important determinant risk factors.

The high rate of development of MDRPI is worrying in terms of nursing care quality. It is recommended that nurses recognise risk factors in order to prevent the development of MDRPI, evaluate the suitability, necessity, and safety of the devices to be used is located.