title: Pressure ulcer prevention in high-risk postoperative cardiovascular patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little has been published about how to prevent pressure ulcers in severely debilitated, immobile patients in intensive care units.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a possible prevention strategy for postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients at high risk for development of pressure ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff chose to implement air fluidized therapy beds, which provide maximal immersion and envelopment as a measure for preventing pressure ulcers in patients who (1) required vasopressors for at least 24 hours and (2) required mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 1 of 27 patients had a pressure ulcer develop while on the air fluidized therapy bed (February 2008 through August 2008), and that ulcer was only a stage I ulcer, compared with 40 ulcers in 25 patients before the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients spent a mean of 7.9 days on the mattress, and the cost of bed rental was approximately $18000, which was similar to the cost of treatment of 1 pressure ulcer in stage III or IV (about $40000) and was considered cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Saint Joseph Health System, Lexington, Kentucky, KY, USA. mjackson@integratedcare.com
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McKenney
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drumm
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Merrick
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: LeMaster
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: VanGilder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001513:Beds / Q000191:economics; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents