Clinical Management of Pressure Ulcers

Effect of supplements/intensive nutrition on pressure ulcer healing: a multicentre, randomised controlled study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of an intensive nutrition intervention or use of wound healing supplements compared with standard nutritional care in pressure ulcer (PU) healing in hospitalised patients.

METHOD

Adult patients with a Stage II or greater PU and predicted length of stay (LOS) of at least seven days were eligible for inclusion in this pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT). Patients with a PU were randomised to receive either: standard nutritional care (n=46); intensive nutritional care delivered by a dietitian (n=42); or standard care plus provision of a wound healing nutritional formula (n=43). Relevant nutritional and PU parameters were collected at baseline and then weekly or until discharge.

RESULTS

Of the 546 patients screened, 131 were included in the study. Participant mean age was 66.1±16.9 years, 75 (57.2%) were male and 50 (38.5%) were malnourished at recruitment. Median length of stay was 14 (IQR: 7-25) days and 62 (46.7%) had ≥2 PUs at the time of recruitment. Median change from baseline to day 14 in PU area was -0.75cm² (IQR: -2.9_-0.03) and mean overall change in Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) score was -2.9 (SD 3.2). Being in the nutrition intervention group was not a predictor of change in PUSH score, when adjusted for PU stage or location on recruitment (p=0.28); it was not a predictor of PU area at day 14, when adjusted for PU stage or area on recruitment (p=0.89) or PU stage and PUSH score on recruitment (p=0.91), nor a predictor of time to heal.

CONCLUSION

This study failed to confirm a significant positive impact on PU healing of use of an intensive nutrition intervention or wound healing supplements in hospitalised patients. Further research that focuses on practical mechanisms to meet protein and energy requirements is needed to guide practice.

The efficacy of gelatin sponge combined with moist wound-healing nursing intervention for the treatment of pressure ulcers: A randomized controlled trial protocol

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this current research is to investigate the effectiveness of the nursing intervention of combination gelatin sponge and moist wound healing in treating the pressure ulcers (PUs).

METHODS

This is a randomized controlled trial to be carried out from January 2021 to May 2021. This trial is implemented in accordance with the SPIRIT Checklist for the randomized researches and was granted through the Ethics Committee of 5th Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital (No. 0624876). This study includes 80 PU participants. The patients meet the following criteria will be included. All participants meet the diagnostic criteria recommended via the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Society: complete skin defect, no bones, tendons and muscles exposure, no subcutaneous tunnel or scale; the patients selected are between 40 and 60 years old. The patients with the following criteria will be excluded: receiving other treatments that may influence the healing, for instance, radiation therapy and corticosteroids; patients with the complications of infection, malignant tumors, as well as peripheral vascular disease; and patients with serious diseases, containing kidney, cardiac, and liver diseases. The patients are randomly divided into 2 groups, the control group and study group, with 40 members in each group. In control group, the patients are given the routine nursing care. And in study group, the patients are given the nursing of gelatin sponge combined with moist wound-healing. After 28 days, the state of the patients healing is observed closely, containing the dressing change frequency, curative effects, and the end-point efficiency. On the basis of the Pressure Ulcer Healing Scale developed by the American pressure sore expert group, the quantitative scoring can be implemented, and therapeutic effects are assessed.

RESULTS

The variables of clinical result among the groups are illustrated in the Table.

CONCLUSION

The nursing intervention of gelatin sponge combined with the moist wound- healing may evidently increase the healing efficiency of PU.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

researchregistry 6091.

Pressure ulcers: the core, care and cure approach

Pressure ulcer/injury remains a significant health problem in the community, requiring comprehensive care. Nurses are involved in the management and prevention of pressure injury. However, to date, studies focusing on applying nursing theory to pressure ulcer care have been limited. In the present study, the three dimensions of Lydia Hall's 1964 theory-core, care and cure-are extensively discussed and linked with the practice of pressure injury management. It is hoped that this review will help community nurses understand the application of this nursing theory to the prevention and management of pressure injury.

Chronic wound treatment in elderly and geriatric patients

In Germany, there has been a continuous increase in life expectancy for more than 135 years. The number of people aged 80 years and over will triple until 2050. Chronic wounds in different aetiologies will increase in our ageing population, with a parallel growth in numbers of comorbidities and geriatric syndromes. Beside vascular difficulties of wound healing and physiological changes in skin conditions among the elderly, we are challenged by the treatment of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases (Polyneuropathy), the decrease of mobility and the increase of joint troubles, as well as cognitive, emotional and motoric deficits and even dementia. On the basis of the expected progress in age, we have selectively analysed our patients from the age of 80 up to the age of 100 years with chronic wounds, leg and foot ulcers, treated in a specialised wound care centre. Further, we performed a statistical evaluation for the geriatric medical department with focus on geriatric patients with additional wound-healing problems.