Pressure UlcersWhat Is a Pressure Ulcer? A pressure ulcer is localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of continuous pressure on a body part, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. Bed sores are an example of pressure wounds. Over time, pressure obstructs blood and lymphatic circulation, prevents tissue from receiving nutrition, and builds up waste products which can lead to toxicity, even cell death. Low pressure on body parts over a long period of time are as capable of producing tissue damage as high pressure does over a short period of time. Proven Treatment for Pressure Ulcers The TRUHEAL Wound Program is a proven method for healing chronic pressure ulcers of all types in every care setting, including the home. The TRUHEAL Wound Program is the outcome of exhaustive research in wound care outcomes by Advanced Healing Institute. TRUHEAL combines two breakthrough therapies with well-researched procedures to speed up the wound healing process, even when other treatments have failed. Innovative technologies include:
More about Pressure Ulcers Impaired mobility is probably the most common reason patients experience uninterrupted pressure. Individuals who have restricted movement due to bed rest, wheel chair use, etc., cannot alter their position often enough to relieve pressure on certain body parts. If prolonged, impaired mobility may lead to the loss of muscle and soft tissue, decreasing the “padding” over the bony prominences that are often the center of pressure wounds. A relatively small surface wound may have significant subsurface damage including tunneling and undermining. If pressure is relieved before a critical point is reached, the body can restore tissue nutrition and compensate for the poor circulation that occurred. If pressure is not relieved before that critical point, the blood vessel can collapse and a blood clot can form. When a clot obstructs circulation, tissues are deprived of oxygen, nutrients and waste removal. Many pressure ulcers can be prevented. Even the most vigilant nursing care, however, may not prevent the worsening of ulcers in some high-risk individuals. In those cases, intensive therapy must be aimed at reducing risk factors (such as improving nutritional status), at preventive measures (such as frequent turning, and the use of mattress overlays), and at treatment. Many lower extremity wounds of diabetic and arterial origin have been mistaken for pressure ulcers. To appropriately establish wound type and cause, a thorough wound assessment should be completed as required by state and federal guidelines. The Advanced Healing Institute Wound Assessment Guideline requires a detailed assessment of the whole patient and their history as well as other factors including duration of the wound, patient’s recollection of the causative factors, complaints of pain, fever, numbness or drainage. Pressure wounds are identified by the stages of their development. Click the menu to the left for more information about the stages of pressure ulcers. References
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