education
The prevention and management of pressure ulcers: summary of updated NICE guidance L. Cooper,1 BSc, MRCS, Surgical Trainee; C.Vellodi,2 MBBS, FRCP, Consultant Physician; G. Stansby,3 MA(Catab), MB, MChir, FRCS, Professor of Vascular Surgery and Honorary Consultant Vascular Surgeon; L. Avital,4 MSc, Associate Director;
Email: [email protected]
What are pressure ulcers? Pressure ulcers (PUs) are formed as a result of pressure compromising local tissue blood supply and most commonly occur over bony prominences. Patient factors, extrinsic factors and a combination of both may increase the risk of pressure damage. Patient factors include neurological conditions, impaired nutrition, impaired mobility and poor posture or deformity. Factors extrinsic to the patient include the use of equipment such as beds or chairs, which do not provide adequate pressure relief.
Why are pressure ulcers important?
Why is this guideline relevant to the Journal of Wound Care readers? PU prevention and management has been a recent focus in the Journal of Wound Care, with over 25 related articles pub-
lished since January 2013 (www.pubmed. com search: (“Journal of wound care”[Journal]) AND PUs[MeSH Terms] (accessed 21/10/14). A recent study comparing PU preventative practice in Norway and Ireland, published in the Journal of Wound Care, suggested that current PU prevention practice tended to be irregular, poorly documented and lacked a standardised approach.7 The new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (CG179)8 provides an evidence based, standardised, practical guide to the prevention and management of PUs in the UK, relevant to readers of the Journal of Wound Care of all disciplines, and augments the national focus on the prevention of PUs. It distills the best available evidence into multidisciplinary recommendations applicable in any setting where NHS care is provided or funded. It is hoped that implementation of the guideline will help to reduce the incidence of PUs and optimise the management of PUs in the NHS, in the interests of patient safety, clinical and economic outcomes. This summary provides a succinct reference guide to the longer guidelines, designed for easy reference by clinicians. For all recommendations, see the full guidelines. The recommendations are divided into prevention and management for various patient groups: neonates (
The prevention and management of pressure ulcers: summary of updated NICE guidance L. Cooper,1 BSc, MRCS, Surgical Trainee; C.Vellodi,2 MBBS, FRCP, Consultant Physician; G. Stansby,3 MA(Catab), MB, MChir, FRCS, Professor of Vascular Surgery and Honorary Consultant Vascular Surgeon; L. Avital,4 MSc, Associate Director;
Email: [email protected]
What are pressure ulcers? Pressure ulcers (PUs) are formed as a result of pressure compromising local tissue blood supply and most commonly occur over bony prominences. Patient factors, extrinsic factors and a combination of both may increase the risk of pressure damage. Patient factors include neurological conditions, impaired nutrition, impaired mobility and poor posture or deformity. Factors extrinsic to the patient include the use of equipment such as beds or chairs, which do not provide adequate pressure relief.
Why are pressure ulcers important?
Why is this guideline relevant to the Journal of Wound Care readers? PU prevention and management has been a recent focus in the Journal of Wound Care, with over 25 related articles pub-
lished since January 2013 (www.pubmed. com search: (“Journal of wound care”[Journal]) AND PUs[MeSH Terms] (accessed 21/10/14). A recent study comparing PU preventative practice in Norway and Ireland, published in the Journal of Wound Care, suggested that current PU prevention practice tended to be irregular, poorly documented and lacked a standardised approach.7 The new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (CG179)8 provides an evidence based, standardised, practical guide to the prevention and management of PUs in the UK, relevant to readers of the Journal of Wound Care of all disciplines, and augments the national focus on the prevention of PUs. It distills the best available evidence into multidisciplinary recommendations applicable in any setting where NHS care is provided or funded. It is hoped that implementation of the guideline will help to reduce the incidence of PUs and optimise the management of PUs in the NHS, in the interests of patient safety, clinical and economic outcomes. This summary provides a succinct reference guide to the longer guidelines, designed for easy reference by clinicians. For all recommendations, see the full guidelines. The recommendations are divided into prevention and management for various patient groups: neonates (
