Manejo de pacientes adultos mayores con úlceras por presión.

Abstract

Pressure ulcers, also called decubitus ulcers or eschar, are lesions of ischemic origin that affect the skin and its adjacent tissues because of the prolonged pressure exerted on a bony prominence (1). A study was conducted on the management of elderly patients with pressure ulcers hospitalized in the clinical-surgical area of a general hospital. Objective: To describe the management of elderly patients with pressure ulcers. Design: Population: 23 graduates in nursing; 20 nursing assistants and 2 physical therapists. In a study with a quantitative approach, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective. Technique: Survey Instrument: Questionnaire of questions directed to the nursing staff and physical therapists as subjects of study. Results: Age range of 20-29 years and 40-49 years 5%; 62% of the female sex; 51% of the staff is made up of graduates in nursing; 42% of graduates have more than 10 years of work in the area; 80% report having knowledge about physiopathology of UPP, risk factors; 33% admit that hospitalization time is the main predisposing factor; 80% of the staff is aware of prevention measures, among which the most applied is to make postural changes represented by 33% of respondents; 67% reflects the knowledge about the UPP care and among the interventions carried out, the nursing staff and physical therapists classify the UPP stage and keep the wound clean. Conclusion: The knowledge of this type of alterations in the tissue is important to fulfill nursing interventions to contribute to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of UPP in older adults.