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Do pressure ulcers influence length of hospital stay in surgical cardiothoracic patients? A prospective evaluation

Do pressure ulcers influence length of hospital stay in surgical cardiothoracic patients? A prospective evaluation
Do pressure ulcers influence length of hospital stay in surgical cardiothoracic patients? A prospective evaluation
Aim and objective. The aim and objective of this study was to determine whether the occurrence of pressure ulcers following cardiothoracic surgery increases the length of hospitalisation.

Background. Literature suggests that a pressure ulcer extends the length of hospital stay. The impact of pressure ulcers on length of hospital stay after cardiothoracic surgery is yet undetermined.

Design. Prospective follow-up study.

Methods. Two hundred and four patients admitted for elective cardiothoracic surgery and with an intensive care unit stay of >48 hours were included in a prospective cohort study. The course of the skin condition in relation to pressure ulcers was monitored during their stay in a teaching hospital. Length of hospital stay was compared between the group with and without pressure ulcers.

Results. Hospital stay for cardiothoracic patients with and without pressure ulcers did not differ significantly (p = 0.23). Patients that developed pressure ulcers had a median hospital stay of 13 days (interquartile range: 9–19) vs. 12 days (interquartile range: 7–15) for patients without pressure ulcers. However, we observed that length of stay in the intensive care unit was significantly (p = 0.005 longer for patients with pressure ulcers. This was not associated with the occurrence of complications. However, the occurrence of pressure ulcers was significantly correlated with length of intensive care support in postoperative care.

Conclusion. Non-complicated pressure ulcers in postsurgery patients do not significantly increase the length of total hospital stay. Relevance to clinical practice. Health professionals need to recognise that patients who have undergone major surgery (such as cardiothoracic surgery) are prone to develop pressure ulcers. Despite the fact that pressure ulcers do not necessarily extend hospital stay, monitoring the skin condition remains of crucial importance for prevention and early detection as well as treatment of pressure ulcers and to minimise patient discomfort. Moreover, as pressure ulcers often originate in the operating room, prevention in the operating room should receive more attention.
cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, nursing ward, pressure ulcers
0962-1067
2456-2463
Schuurman, Jaap-Peter
07fbb093-2ab1-43e8-b01f-b8bf4ecbefd7
Schoonhoven, Lisette
46a2705b-c657-409b-b9da-329d5b1b02de
Keller, B. Paul J.A.
6b0c27da-3b6e-410b-8eb4-3fa9912e5220
van Ramshorst, Bert
a8f7fa13-2e42-4f33-8a5e-71f0543e58d8
Schuurman, Jaap-Peter
07fbb093-2ab1-43e8-b01f-b8bf4ecbefd7
Schoonhoven, Lisette
46a2705b-c657-409b-b9da-329d5b1b02de
Keller, B. Paul J.A.
6b0c27da-3b6e-410b-8eb4-3fa9912e5220
van Ramshorst, Bert
a8f7fa13-2e42-4f33-8a5e-71f0543e58d8

Schuurman, Jaap-Peter, Schoonhoven, Lisette, Keller, B. Paul J.A. and van Ramshorst, Bert (2009) Do pressure ulcers influence length of hospital stay in surgical cardiothoracic patients? A prospective evaluation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18 (17), 2456-2463. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02711.x). (PMID:19220621)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aim and objective. The aim and objective of this study was to determine whether the occurrence of pressure ulcers following cardiothoracic surgery increases the length of hospitalisation.

Background. Literature suggests that a pressure ulcer extends the length of hospital stay. The impact of pressure ulcers on length of hospital stay after cardiothoracic surgery is yet undetermined.

Design. Prospective follow-up study.

Methods. Two hundred and four patients admitted for elective cardiothoracic surgery and with an intensive care unit stay of >48 hours were included in a prospective cohort study. The course of the skin condition in relation to pressure ulcers was monitored during their stay in a teaching hospital. Length of hospital stay was compared between the group with and without pressure ulcers.

Results. Hospital stay for cardiothoracic patients with and without pressure ulcers did not differ significantly (p = 0.23). Patients that developed pressure ulcers had a median hospital stay of 13 days (interquartile range: 9–19) vs. 12 days (interquartile range: 7–15) for patients without pressure ulcers. However, we observed that length of stay in the intensive care unit was significantly (p = 0.005 longer for patients with pressure ulcers. This was not associated with the occurrence of complications. However, the occurrence of pressure ulcers was significantly correlated with length of intensive care support in postoperative care.

Conclusion. Non-complicated pressure ulcers in postsurgery patients do not significantly increase the length of total hospital stay. Relevance to clinical practice. Health professionals need to recognise that patients who have undergone major surgery (such as cardiothoracic surgery) are prone to develop pressure ulcers. Despite the fact that pressure ulcers do not necessarily extend hospital stay, monitoring the skin condition remains of crucial importance for prevention and early detection as well as treatment of pressure ulcers and to minimise patient discomfort. Moreover, as pressure ulcers often originate in the operating room, prevention in the operating room should receive more attention.

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Published date: September 2009
Keywords: cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, nursing ward, pressure ulcers
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 339220
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/339220
ISSN: 0962-1067
PURE UUID: 833cb618-81f8-4985-a6b3-8320147994d7
ORCID for Lisette Schoonhoven: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7129-3766

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Date deposited: 25 May 2012 11:18
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:41

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Contributors

Author: Jaap-Peter Schuurman
Author: B. Paul J.A. Keller
Author: Bert van Ramshorst

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