Relationship between Oxygenation Status and the Risk of Pressure Ulcer Development in Patients after Open Heart Surgery

Although healthcare agencies have made efforts to decrease the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospital settings in recent years, pressure ulcers remain a significant clinical problem across all hospital setting, especially in intensive care units. The present study aimed at examining relationship between oxygenation status and the risk of pressure ulcer development among patients with the open heart surgery.
This cross sectional studywas conducted in Qazvin City, Iran, during 2015-2016. The population included all patients admitted to the Booali Cardiac Surgery Unit from March to May 2016. Eighty-two patients were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the pressure ulcer staging criteria, Braden scale for checking signs of pressure ulcer development and demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (Pearson correlation test and independent t-test) by the SPSS 20 statistical software.
Most of the patients participated in the study were old men (56.1%) with the mean age of 60.93 ± 10.52 years. Factors such as the mean of CO2 of arterial blood pressure in the fourth day (P = 0.04), smoking (P = 0.000), age (P = 0.000) and length of ICU stay (P = 0.002) had a significant effect on the risk of pressure ulcer development. Risk of pressure ulcer development was not significantly correlated with mean oxygen saturation, mean arterial oxygen pressure, the average oxygen content of the blood, average fraction of inspired oxygen and the body temperature.
According to findings of the present study, patients hospitalized in the cardiac surgery intensive care units are at a high risk of pressure ulcer developments. Factors such as decreased CO2 of arterial blood pressure, increased age and length of ICU stay, and smoking increased this risk and decreased the patient's quality of life. Health care providers should be aware and implement usful strategies to prevent the pressure ulcers.