PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain Management in Pressure Ulcers

Pain Management in Pressure Ulcers

Introduction

The Pressure Ulcer (PU) is defined as areas of tissue necrosis, which tend to develop when soft tissue is compressed. The development of pressure sores is multifactorial, including internal and external factors such as age, morbidity, state nutritional hydration. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), health actions, performed at home in the context of Primary Care (PC) incorporate features that include systematic actions. Therefore we stress the importance of integrating Physiotherapist at this level of attention, through home visits. The present work seeks to gather information on the development and prevention of ulcers pressure, offering subsidies for better patient care and serving also as a source of information for future research. The prevention can be accomplished through appropriate guidance and encouragement to patients and their families, emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and participation, and collaboration during clinical treatment.

In the prevention of pressure ulcers assistance must be aimed at eliminating or reducing major risk factors, the first of which is stillness. The first and most important measure is in fact implementing a regular and frequent change of position of 'sick (at least every two hours) during the day and at night, if no action is taken in this sense, every other treatment is bound to be ineffective. Will alternate the position on both sides with the supine position and will be used for short periods in the prone (face down), if tolerated. If you use the semi-recumbent position (for not more than two hours) will be counteracted the tendency of the body to slide forward with the use of suitable supports or cushions to prevent the risk of chafing of the skin against the sheets or the plan surface.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Acute Care Settings

While much has been discussed and read about the causes, pathophysiology and consequences caused by the PU, these remain serious problem for patients institutionalized and to the institution itself, and the community.

It is clear today that this phenomenon extrapolates nursing care because the etiology is multifactorial, including intrinsic and extrinsic factors the individual such as age, comorbidities, conditions mobility, nutritional status, level of awareness among others. However, because of carers direct patients and remain at your side in 24 hours a day, nurse practitioners have is responsible for implementing measures and systematic preventive care, through the adoption of protocols based on guidelines international, in order to avoid such fateful event.

While the ICU is the appropriate place for treatment critically ill patients, it is also considered by some authors, such as hospital environments one of the most aggressive, tense and traumatic for patients, therefore added to the critical situation in which they find themselves, there are factors detrimental to your psychological structure, as lack of favorable conditions for sleep interventions Therapeutic frequent, isolation, and fear of worsening of disease and consequent death that interfere even more in their general (5-6). Thus, the patients confined to bed for prolonged periods mechanical ventilation, with motor dysfunction, sensory and vasoactive drugs, ...