Acute Skin Failure in the Critically Ill Adult Population: A Systematic Review

Construction of a Risk Prediction Model for the Occurrence of Acute Skin Failure in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for acute skin failure (ASF), a serious complication of the skin, are not fully understood.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to explore the risk factors for ASF in critically ill patients and construct a clinical prediction model.

METHODS

Intensive care unit patients were prospectively observed and assigned into two groups: with and without ASF. A logistic regression model was constructed, and its predictive power and clinical utility were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 204 eligible patients enrolled as participants, 58 (28.43%) developed ASF. Sepsis, vasoactive drugs, and age were shown to be risk factors for ASF, whereas peripheral perfusion index ratio and albumin level were shown to be protective factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.83. The maximum Youden index of the model was 0.39 (specificity: 0.87, sensitivity: 0.77). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p = .20) and calibration curve showed good fitness and predictive utility with respect to the model.

CONCLUSIONS

The developed model effectively predicts ASF risk, allowing for the early identification of high-risk patients. Identifying risk factors such as sepsis, vasoactive drugs, and age and considering protective factors such as peripheral perfusion index and albumin levels may help optimize care plans. Clinical staff should pay special attention to these factors and their impact on skin health in critically ill patients.

Prevalence and incidence of skin tear in older adults：A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Skin tear (ST) is a public health problem in older adults; they substantially increase the risk of complications and cause serious adverse consequences and health care burden.

AIM

To estimate the pooled prevalence and incidence of ST among older adults.

METHODS

Ten databases were systematically searched from their inception to July 27, 2023. Two researchers performed a systematic review independently according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All inconsistencies were resolved by a principal researcher. The pooled prevalence and incidence of ST were estimated in R 4.3.1 program.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of ST was 6.0 % (95 % confidence interval (CI): 3.0%-11.0 %, I2 = 98 %), and the pooled incidence was 11.0 % (95 % CI: 5.0%-19.0 %, I2 = 94 %). The prevalence of ST was 11.0 % (95 % CI: 5.0%-19.0 %, I2 = 95 %) in long-term care facilities, 5.0 % (95 % CI: 3.0%-9.0 %, I2 = 86 %) in Europe, and 7.0 % (95 % CI: 1.0%-16.0 %, I2 = 82 %) in the Skin Tear Audit Research classification system (STAR). It has stabilized at 6.0 % since 2021. The incidence of ST was 15.0 % (95 % CI: 11.0%-20.0 %, I2 = 66 %) in long-term care facilities in Japan and 4.0 % (95 % CI: 2.0%-6.0 %) in Canada.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults are at a high risk for ST. Our findings emphasize the importance of epidemiologic studies and further exploring assessment tools for ST. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to ST, identify high-risk individuals and associated factors, and implement targeted prevention strategies for older adults.

Determinants of the success in flap reconstruction-Outcome analysis of 120 flaps in 484 procedures for pressure injury

Pressure injury (PI) mainly occurs in bedridden older adults or those with physical limitations. Here, we aimed to determine the appropriate timing to conduct flap reconstruction in patients with PIs and identify factors affecting surgical outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients who received debridement or flap reconstruction surgery for PIs in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. The extracted data included patient demographics, surgical records, blood test results, vital signs, and flap outcomes. In total, 484 surgical procedures (364 debridements and 120 flaps) were performed on 216 patients. Serum albumin level of ≥2.5 g/dL remarkably increased the likelihood of complete wound healing (odds ratio [OR] = 4.12, P = .032) and reduced the risk of postoperative complications (OR = 0.26, P = .040). In contrast, advanced age (OR = 1.04, P = .045) and serum creatinine level ≥2 mg/dL (OR = 5.07, P = .016) increased the risk of postoperative complications. Thus, patients with a favourable nutrition status have a higher likelihood of achieving complete wound healing. By contrast, patients who are older and have serum creatinine ≥2 mg/dL and serum albumin <2.5 g/dL tend to develop more postoperative complications. Overall, thorough correction for patient inflammation, infection, anaemia, and malnutrition status can provide optimal flap surgery outcomes.

Examining Violaceous Skin Discoloration during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Conducting Research in Resource Scarcity

OBJECTIVE

To describe the observed patterns and presentations of violaceous discoloration that appeared to be related to the COVID-19 disease process.

METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study included adults who were COVID-19 positive with purpuric/violaceous lesions in pressure-adjacent areas of the gluteus without preexisting pressure injury. Patients were admitted to an ICU at a single quaternary academic medical center between April 1 and May 15, 2020. Data were compiled by review of the electronic health record. The wounds were described by location, tissue type (violaceous, granulation, slough, eschar), wound margin (irregular, diffuse, nonlocalized), and periwound condition (intact).

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients were included in the study. Purpuric/violaceous wounds were found predominantly on White (92.3%) men (88.0%) aged 60 to 89 years (76.9%) with a body mass index 30 kg/m2 or higher (46.1%). The majority of wounds were located on the sacrococcygeal (42.3%) and fleshy gluteal regions (46.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Wounds were heterogeneous in appearance (poorly defined violaceous skin discoloration of acute onset), and the patient population had clinical characteristics similar to acute skin failure (eg, concomitant organ failures and hemodynamic instability). Additional larger population-based studies with biopsies may assist in finding patterns related to these dermatologic changes.

Cutaneous Anomalies of the Critically Ill Patient

Critically ill patients are at high risk for organ failure, including that of the integumentary system. Nurses working in intensive care are adept at performing comprehensive assessments that include the skin. Although pressure injury is a well-known complication associated with critical illness, patients may also have debilitating and life-threatening dermatoses. Conditions such as skin failure and medical adhesive-related skin damage are commonly seen in the critically ill. Infectious processes, such as Fournier gangrene, invasive candidiasis, mucormycosis, and herpetic lesions, can result in severe or superimposed critical illness and elude detection. Similarly, cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 may develop prior to commonly recognized symptoms of infection. Nurses and providers caring for critically ill patients should be aware of common, but less widely known, skin conditions to facilitate early detection and treatment.

Skin injuries associated with severe life-threatening situations: A new conceptual framework

PURPOSE

To create a conceptual framework for skin injuries developing in patients whose lives are severely compromised or who are expected to die within a short period of time. To name and classify these types of skin injuries. To describe the clinical features of the different types of skin injuries that may occur in terminally ill and/or dying patients.

DESIGN

A sequential design with several different phases (a literature review, a nominal group, and a consensus conference) was used.

METHODS

Six experts with extensive knowledge of these types of injuries were selected for the nominal group. The traditional eight-phase nominal group technique was followed. The consensus conference consisted of participants voting on different options based on the statements elaborated with the expert panel summarizing the best scientific evidence available.

FINDINGS

Using all these elements, a conceptual framework was constructed to identify skin injuries associated with severe life-threatening situations (SI-SLTSs), defined as unpredictable and therefore unpreventable injuries indicating a serious threat to life or even imminent death. These injuries can occur in two forms: (a) as skin injuries associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (SI-MODSs) or (b) as skin injuries associated with severe vasoconstriction (SI-ESVs). SI-MODSs develop very quickly and suddenly. They progress from superficial to deep stages abruptly, even within hours. The severity of the injuries does not reflect the care provided to the patient. Individuals suffering from these injuries have an irreversible clinical condition. SI-ESVs also appear in individuals who are in a very critical, even terminal, clinical condition. They are frequently treated in the ICU and may exhibit severe vasoconstriction due to their disease process (e.g., shock), sometimes exacerbated by vasoconstriction caused by various drugs (e.g., noradrenaline).

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed a conceptual framework for skin injuries developing in patients whose lives are severely compromised or who are expected to die within a short period of time and have named them SI-SLTSs, distinguishing between SI-MODSs and SI-ESVs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This new conceptual framework may help clinicians understand the mechanisms and the pathophysiology of skin injuries that develop in terminally ill and/or dying patients associated with multi-organ failure. Through this new framework these injuries can be identified and differentiated from pressure injuries or other dependence-related skin lesions.

Understanding Skin Failure: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

To map the use of the term "skin failure" in the literature over time and enhance understanding of this term as it is used in clinical practice.

DATA SOURCES

The databases searched for published literature included PubMed, Embase, the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Google Scholar. The search for unpublished literature encompassed two databases, Open Gray and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses.

STUDY SELECTION

Search terms included "skin failure," "acute skin failure," "chronic skin failure," and "end stage skin." All qualitative and quantitative research designs, editorial, opinion pieces, and case studies were included, as well as relevant gray literature.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data collected included author, title, year of publication, journal name, whether the term "skin failure" was mentioned in the publication and/or in conjunction with other skin injury, study design, study setting, study population, sample size, main focus of the publication, what causes skin failure, skin failure definition, primary study aim, and primary outcome.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Two main themes of skin failure were identified through this scoping review: the etiology of skin failure and the interchangeable use of definitions.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the term "skin failure" has increased significantly over the past 30 years. However, there remains a significant lack of empirical evidence related to skin failure across all healthcare settings. The lack of quality research has resulted in multiple lines of thinking on the cause of skin failure, as well as divergent definitions of the concept. These results illustrate substantial gaps in the current literature and an urgent need to develop a globally agreed-upon definition of skin failure, as well as a better understanding of skin failure etiology.

ACUTE SKIN FAILURE E LESÃO POR PRESSÃO EM PACIENTE COM COVID-19

Objetivo:relatar o caso de um paciente crítico com COVID-19 e mostrar os principais achados relacionados à lesão considerada Acute skin failure (ASF), bem como realizar seu diagnóstico diferencial com lesão por pressão (LP) evitável. Método: estudo observacional do tipo relato de caso, desenvolvido em um hospital de São Paulo, na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) exclusiva a pessoas diagnosticadas com COVID-19. Os dados foram coletados de um único paciente, entre os meses de março e setembro de 2020. Resultados: paciente com complicações da COVID-19 evoluiu com lesão de pele, inicialmente definida como LP e posteriormente reclassificada como ASF. Os seguintes achados corroboraram o diagnóstico: ventilação mecânica invasiva prolongada, insuficiências respiratória, renal e cardíaca e sepse de foco respiratório. Além disso, outros fatores agravantes, como o uso de droga vasoativa, instabilidade hemodinâmica com intolerância ao mínimo reposicionamento, jejum prolongado e coagulopatia intravascular disseminada associada à infecção pelo coronavírus. Conclusão: o relato mostra que existem dificuldades para o diagnóstico diferencial entre ASF e LP na prática clínica. Trata-se de conceito novo, sendo fundamental que o profissional de saúde reconheça os principais fatores associados ao aparecimento da ASF, muitos dos quais também estão relacionados ao desenvolvimento das LP, ressaltando a necessidade de análise individualizada dessas lesões, e garantia da implementação de intervenções adequadas para prevenção e tratamento.

ACUTE SKIN FAILURE AND PRESSURE INJURY IN THE PATIENT WITH COVID-19

Objective:report the case of a critical patient with COVID-19 and show the main findings related to the injury considered acute skin failure (ASF), as well as perform his differential diagnosis with preventable pressure injury (PI). Method: observational, longitudinal, case report type study, developed in a hospital in São Paulo, in the intensive care unit (ICU) exclusively for people diagnosed with COVID-19. Data were collected from a single patient between March and September 2020. Results: A patient with complications from COVID-19 developed a skin lesion, initially defined as PI and later reclassified as ASF. The following findings corroborated the diagnosis: prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation, respiratory, renal and cardiac insufficiency and sepsis of respiratory focus. In addition, other aggravating factors, such as the use of vasoactive drugs, hemodynamic instability with intolerance to minimal repositioning, prolonged fasting and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy associated with coronavirus infection. Conclusion: the report shows that there are difficulties for the differential diagnosis between ASF and PI in clinical practice. This is a new concept, and it is essential that health professionals recognize the main factors associated with the appearance of ASF, many of which are also related to the development of PI, highlighting the need for individualized analysis of these injuries, and ensuring the implementation of interventions for prevention and treatment.

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries and Acute Skin Failure in Critical Care: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine clinical characteristics and risk factors for critically ill patients who develop pressure injuries and identify the proportion of validated unavoidable pressure injuries associated with the proposed risk factors for acute skin failure (ASF).

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control comparative study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

The sample comprised adult critically ill participants hospitalized in critical care units such as surgical, trauma, cardiovascular surgical, cardiac, neuro, and medical intensive care and corresponding progressive care units in 5 acute care hospitals within a large Midwestern academic/teaching healthcare system. Participants who developed hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) and patients without HAPIs (controls) were included.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of data from a previous study with HAPIs and matching data for the control sample without HAPIs were obtained from the electronic health record. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 475 participants; 165 experienced a HAPI and acted as cases, whereas the remaining 310 acted as controls. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) mean score (23.8, 8.7%; P < .001), mortality (n = 45, 27.3%; P = .002), history of liver disease (n = 28, 17%; P < .001), and unintentional loss of 10 lb or more in 1 month (n = 20, 12%; P = .002) were higher in the HAPI group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified participants with respiratory failure (odds ratio [OR] = 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-7.08; P = .012), renal failure (OR = 7.48; 95% CI, 3.49-16.01; P < .001), cardiac failure (OR = 4.50; 95% CI, 1.76-11.51; P = .002), severe anemia (OR = 10.89; 95% CI, 3.59-33.00; P < .001), any type of sepsis (OR = 3.15; 95% CI, 1.44-6.90; P = .004), and moisture documentation (OR = 11.89; 95% CI, 5.27-26.81; P <.001) were more likely to develop a HAPI. No differences between unavoidable HAPI, avoidable HAPI, or the control group were identified based on the proposed ASF risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study provides important information regarding avoidable and unavoidable HAPIs and ASF. Key clinical characteristics and risk factors, such as patient acuity, organ failure, tissue perfusion, sepsis, and history of prior pressure injury, are associated with avoidable and unavoidable HAPI development. In addition, we were unable to support a relationship between unavoidable HAPIs and the proposed risk factors for ASF. Unavoidability of HAPIs rests with the documentation of appropriate interventions and not necessarily with the identification of clinical risk factors.