Pressure ulcers occur due to compression of certain parts of the body. This comes from prolonged contact with a hard surface: bed, tire, wheelchair. The mechanism of pressure sores is based on bleeding and necrosis of tissues in places where skin is compressed.
The most common cause of pressure sores is tissue necrosis. As you know, the blood vessels located on every centimeter of the skin nourish it and saturate it with oxygen. With vascular constriction due to prolonged pressure, necrosis or tissue necrosis occurs, which leads to the formation of pressure sores.
Pressure ulcers can occur due to displacement of the layers of the skin. If the patient is constantly pulled over the bed or pulled out sheets, a vessel or wet clothes from underneath, a blood supply disturbance occurs, which can lead to the formation of pressure sores.
Most often, the disease occurs in obese or too thin people, in people with poor nutrition, heart disease, diabetes, excessive sweating. The risk of trouble is observed in those who suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence. For such patients, prevention of pressure sores is very important.
Adverse factors in the occurrence of pressure sores are the presence of crumbs or foreign objects on the bed, dirty skin, folds in bedding, allergic reactions to cleansing skin care products.
Most often, pressure sores are formed on areas of the body that are located above the bony protrusions and come in contact with a hard surface. In these parts of the body there is very little subcutaneous fat, which plays the role of a pillow and reduces pressure on body tissues.
The most important measure to prevent tissue damage and squeezing is the prevention of pressure sores.
To reduce pressure on the tissue, bedridden patients need to purchase an anti-decubitus mattress (Silver, Dream Line, Lonax). It improves the blood circulation of tissues and has a massage effect, which has a positive effect on the skin and prevents squeezing. If you cannot afford an anti-decubitus mattress , you can use regular foam rubber.
Turn over and change the position of the patient more often, but do this with the utmost care to avoid compression or displacement of tissues.
The prevention of pressure sores also consists in the proper care of the patient. The bed should be clean, free of crumbs or foreign objects, bed linen should not contain seams, buttons or ribbons that could rub the skin and lead to pressure sores. If the patient is lying on his back, then a rubber circle can be placed under his sacrum.
Prevention of pressure sores with the help of various devices (rollers, rubber circle, mattress) is aimed at increasing the area of the body that is in contact with a solid surface. Thus, blood circulation and blood supply improves in the tissues, which significantly reduces the risk of pressure sores.
Nutrition for bedridden patients should be varied and contain the whole complex of necessary substances and vitamins to nourish the skin.
An important preventive measure is compliance with hygiene rules. Wash the patient more often, change bedding, conduct toilet of the perineum and genitals. Feces and urine are irritating to the skin, which increases the risk of pressure sores. Bed linens and accessories should be soft, this can be achieved by repeated washing. Therefore, for bedridden patients, lay old clean linen. It is much softer than new, so it does not rub the skin.
An important condition for the prevention of pressure sores is the temperature regime in the room where the patient is. Excessive overheating leads to sweating, which has a detrimental effect on the skin and leads to ulcers.
Use neutral hypoallergenic detergents; after the toilet, do not wipe the patient's skin, but gently pat it dry. Use moisturizers, powders, ointments. In case of urinary incontinence, use diapers and special pads.