title: Wound wise: wounds in surgical patients who are obese.
abstract: The number of surgical patients who are obese in the United States is rising, a trend that's likely to continue. Such patients are at higher risk than nonobese patients are for surgical site infections and other complications such as dehiscence, pressure ulcers, deep tissue injury, and rhabdomyolysis. This article details the factors that can contribute to such complications, including a high number of comorbidities, and offers practical suggestions for preventing them. Nurses should understand that special equipment, precautions, and protocols may be needed at every stage of care, and that obese patients aren't anomalies but rather a part of a growing population with particular needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, USA. lialine@aol.com
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baugh
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zuelzer
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meador
authors.forename: Jolie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blankenship
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011187:Posture; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000451:nursing*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*