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Decreasing Intraoperative Skin Damage in Prone-Position Surgeries
Barbara M Bates-Jensen1, Jessica Crocker, Vicky Nguyen
1At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, US, Barbara M. Bates-Jensen, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor of Nursing and Medicine, Los Angeles School of Nursing and David Geffen School of Medicine; Jessica Crocker, BA, is Project Director, Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine; and Vicky Nguyen, MSN, is Graduate Student, School of Nursing. Lauren Robertson, BS, is Senior Quality Control Analytical Associate, ImmunityBio, Los Angeles, California. Deborah Nourmand, MSN, RN, is Registered Nurse, UCLA Santa Monica Surgery Center, Santa Monica, CA. At the School of Nursing, UCLA, Emily Chirila, BSN, is Nursing Student; Mohamed Laayouni, MSN, is Nursing Student; Ofelia Offendel, MSN, is Student Nurse; Kelly Peng, BA, is Graduate Student Research Assistant; and Stephanie Anne Romero, MSN, is Graduate Student Researcher. Gerry Fulgentes, MSN, RN, CWOCN, PCCN, is Clinical Manager, Wounds, Ostomy, and Continence Services, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. Heather E. McCreath, PhD, is Adjunct Professor, Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA.
Objective:
To determine if subepidermal moisture (SEM) measures help detect and prevent intraoperative acquired pressure injuries (IAPIs) for prone-position surgery.
Methods:
In this clinical trial of patients (n = 39 preintervention, n = 48 intervention, 100 historical control) undergoing prone-position surgery, researchers examined the use of multidimensionally flexible silicone foam (MFSF) dressings applied preoperatively to patients' face, chest, and iliac crests. Visual skin assessments and SEM measures were obtained preoperatively, postoperatively, and daily for up to 5 days or until discharge. Electronic health record review included demographic, medical, and surgery data.
Results:
Of the 187 total participants, 76 (41%) were women. Participants' mean age was 61.0 ± 15.0 years, and 9.6% were Hispanic (n = 18), 9.6% were Asian (n = 18), 6.9% were Black or African American (n = 13), and 73.8% were White (n = 138). Participants had a mean Scott-Triggers IAPI risk score of 1.5 ± 1.1. Among those with no erythema preoperatively, fewer intervention participants exhibited postoperative erythema on their face and chest than did preintervention participants. Further, fewer intervention participants had SEM-defined IAPIs at all locations in comparison with preintervention participants. The MFSF dressings overcame IAPI risk factors of surgery length, skin tone, and body mass index with fewer IAPIs in intervention participants.
Conclusions:
Patients undergoing prone-position surgeries developed fewer IAPIs, and SEM measures indicated no damage when MFSF dressings were applied to sites preoperatively. The SEM measures detected more damage than visual assessment.
