Pressure Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention Strategies in Operating Room Patients – What Can Be Adapted from the United States of America?
Lauren Goudas - Clinical Nurse, Technical Suites Royal Adelaide Hospital, MN, GradCert (Periop Nursing), MACORN
Lauren.goudas@sa.gov.au
Steven Bruni - Clinical Nurse, Technical Suites Royal Adelaide Hospital, MClinPrac(PNSA), MACORN
Steven.bruni@sa.gov.au
Abstract
The operating room suite (ORS) across CALHN is a very busy environment, in the 2015-16 financial year there were 40 825 surgical separations with 16 824 emergency and 24 001 elective surgeries. All surgical specialities are provided for except paediatrics and obstetrics.
We are increasingly caring for patients who have multiple, complex comorbidities including the frail and elderly. These are all factors that increase the risk of pressure injuries.
Research indicates that pressure injuries from the ORS can appear up to 48-72 hours post- surgery, thus the incidence of pressure injury originating in the OR is likely to be higher than is currently reported(6, 7). Therefore, it can be difficult to gain a true representation of pressure injury development in the OR. Facilities in the USA are now attributing pressure injuries that appear 72 hours post-surgery to the care the patient received in the ORS(8).
A study tour to the United States of America in 2017 discovered there are two pressure injury risk assessment tools for operating room patients and numerous prevention strategies to minimise the risk of pressure injuries.
