title: The effect of a pressure ulcer prevention program and the bowel management system in reducing pressure ulcer prevalence in an ICU setting.
abstract: The Braden score is a reliable predictor of a patient's potential for developing pressure ulcers. Moisture is 1 of 6 indicators considered when calculating a Braden score. Efforts to reduce the effects of moisture and enzymatic activity on skin from incontinent diarrhea have employed various types of nonstandardized and nonapproved approaches. Rigid rectal tubes and catheters designed for other purposes are among the devices being utilized. These devices may put the patient at risk for rectal necrosis and loss of sphincter tone, and their use has produced no demonstrable positive outcomes. Additionally, their use is limited to those patients who are experiencing active diarrhea. The Zassitrade mark Bowel Management System (BMS) developed by Zassi Medical Evolutions, Inc., has produced promising outcomes. While the BMS is useful in managing patients with diarrhea, it can also be used to modify formed stool in patients who have wounds that are likely to become contaminated with incontinent feces, or who are too hemodynamically unstable to turn for lengthy or frequent incontinence care.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-7417, USA. richard.benoit@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology