Assessment of incidence, cause, and consequences of pressure ulcers to evaluate quality of provided care.
BACKGROUND
Pressure ulcers are one of the most frequently registered complications in general surgery.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain insight into the incidence, cause, and consequences of pressure ulcers and to evaluate the value of pressure ulcer registration to assess quality of care.


RESULTS
During the 9-year study period, 275 pressure ulcers were registered (5.8% of total registered complications). Age and female sex were independent risk factors for pressure ulcer development. Pressure ulcer classification was as follows: mild (53.3%), moderate (35.6%), severe (9.5%), and irreversible damage (1.5%). Patients undergoing hip surgery and major limb amputation were at risk for pressure ulcer development (10.4% and 8.8%, respectively). In most patients (89.5%), pressure ulcers had no consequences other than local wound therapy; in 12 patients (4.4%), pressure ulceration led to alteration in medication; in 15 patients (5.5%), length of hospital stay was prolonged; and four patients (0.4%) suffered from irreversible damage.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of pressure ulcers is strongly correlated to sex, age, and indication of admittance. Most ulcers were classified as mild and had no consequences. The insight obtained into incidence, cause, and consequences of pressure ulcers can be used as an indicator of quality of provided care if adjusted for case mix and indication of operation.
Lardenoye
Jan Willem H P
JW
Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. J.H.P.Lardenoye@lumc.nl
Thiéfaine
Jean A J G
JA
Breslau
Paul J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors