Patient-reported outcome survey of user-experiences in the spinal cord injured-community with MPPT for treating wounds and pressure injuries and for controlling soft tissue infection caused by osteomyelitis.

Background: People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at high risk of developing pressure injuries. Reports in the SCI-community had indicated that a new class of wound treatment, MPPT (micropore-particle-technology), was effective in treating pressure injuries. The British Spinal Injuries Association therefore conducted a survey among MPPT-users to learn from their experiences. Methods: Online survey restricted to individuals with spinal cord injury. Participants were requested to identify themselves to permit validation of statement. Results: The survey had 41 respondents reporting on a total of 49 wounds of which the two main categories were wounds (n = 33), primarily pelvic pressure ulcers; and draining fistulas (n = 9) caused by osteomyelitis. All wounds reported had reached full closure. Median duration of MPPT use and time to closure were 3 and 4 weeks for acute wounds (<6 weeks old) and 8 and 10 weeks for chronic wounds, respectively. On draining fistulas, MPPT had been used to reduce wound size, remove soft tissue infection, avoid sepsis, reduce autonomic dysreflexia, improve overall health, and avoid bed rest, whilst waiting for surgery. Comments on MPPT were 84% highly positive, 11% positive, and 0% negative. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: MPPT achieved a 100% closure rate of acute and chronic wounds, and, in draining fistulas, effectively controlled soft tissue infection resulting from osteomyelitis. MPPT does not require bed rest and is suitable for self-care and telemedicine, promoting independence and higher quality-of-life. The findings strongly agree with a recent clinical study of MPPT.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pressure Ulcers in Bedbound Diabetic vs. Non-diabetic Patients in a Lower-Middle-Income Country.

Introduction Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, are a significant concern for bedridden individuals, presenting both physical and socioeconomic challenges. Factors such as prolonged immobility, chronic medical conditions, and poor nutrition contribute to their development. Despite extensive research in some regions, studies comparing diabetic and non-diabetic populations remain limited, particularly in low-income settings. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and frequency of pressure ulcers among bedridden patients, addressing this gap in understanding and guiding targeted interventions. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted across four government hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 388 bedridden patients with pressure ulcers were included, and data were collected through a questionnaire. The questionnaire covered demographics, comorbidities, duration of bedbound status, BMI, and caregivers' awareness of pressure ulcer care. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.), with qualitative data presented as frequencies and percentages and quantitative data as mean and standard deviation. Chi-square tests were utilized for significance, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results Of the 388 patients analyzed, 230 (59.3%) were diabetic, highlighting the prevalence of diabetes among pressure ulcer cases. The majority of diabetic patients with ulcers were over 41 years old, and 293 (75.5%) had comorbidities. Surgical intervention was the primary cause of ulcers in 213 (54.8%) cases, followed by stroke in 77 (19.8%) cases. Notably, 252 (65%) of caregivers exhibited inadequate knowledge regarding ulcer care. Stage II ulcers were prevalent in both diabetic and non-diabetic cohorts. Conclusions Pressure ulcers are poorly controlled complications observed in bedridden individuals, highlighting a critical need for comprehensive preventive measures and caregiver education to alleviate the burden of pressure ulcers, especially in diabetic patients. Factors such as prolonged immobility, surgical interventions, and insufficient caregiver knowledge contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. Understanding these complexities is essential for implementing effective care approaches and mitigating the impact of pressure ulcers.

Nurses' knowledge of medical device-related pressure injuries and risk factors: A descriptive study at a large medical centre from Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Nurses' knowledge of pressure injuries causes and risk factors helps to prevent their occurrences and protect the patient. AIM: To assess the level of knowledge of medical device-related pressure injuries and to identify risk factors that affect the knowledge. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used in this study considering a convenience sample from critical care nurses. The nurses were invited to complete the Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries Knowledge Questionnaire. RESULTS: About 71 nurses participated in the study. The mean score of MDRPI_KQ was 23.28 ± 4.14 out of 36. Mann-Whitney Test did not show statistically significant relationships between the MDRPI_KQ mean score and related variables (p > 0.05). The regression results indicated that the three predictors explained 46.4% of the variance (R2 = 0.215, F(3, 6.114) = 3.75, p = 0.001). It was found that the Frequency of encountering a patient with MDRPIs significantly predicted MDRPI_KQ score, job position, and assuming the care responsibility for MDRPIs in the department. CONCLUSIONS: Poor knowledge of pressure injuries can negatively affect patient care so training programs and policies should be developed based on the level of knowledge and practices of the staff to be more effective.

Reconstructive Options for Pressure Ulcers in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers pose significant challenges in terms of treatment, often exhibiting a low success rate and a propensity for recurrence. Children with neurological impairments such as myelomeningocele and those with spinal injuries are particularly vulnerable to developing pressure ulcers. Despite advancements, achieving successful reconstruction remains a formidable task. Common sites prone to pressure ulcer formation include the sacral and ischial regions, as well as areas over bony prominences. Additionally, pressure ulcers attributable to medical devices facilitating ambulation are observed. While many pressure sores resolve spontaneously, conservative management may prove ineffective for some, especially in cases of stage 3 and 4 ulcers, necessitating surgical intervention. Various surgical techniques are employed for the treatment of decubitus ulcers, yet there exists no universally accepted gold standard for their management. This paper presents our institutional experience in this domain, highlighting differences in surgical approaches, treatment outcomes, complication rates, and long-term follow-up. METHODS: This study involved a retrospective analysis of medical records from 11 children, ranging in age from 10 to 17 years, who presented with extensive pressure ulcers that were unresponsive to conservative treatment measures. Data collection spanned from February 2017 to June 2022. The pressure ulcers affected various anatomical regions, including the ischial area (5/11 patients), sacral region (3/11 patients), lower limb (1/11 patients), elbow (1/11 patients), and perineal area (1/11 patients). Surgical intervention was the chosen approach for all cases, employing techniques such as reconstructive surgery utilizing perforator, pediculated flaps, and locoregional flaps. RESULTS: Eleven patients with sore ulcers (stage 3 and 4) were treated surgically. We present our experience of using surgical methods, including pedicled anterolateral flaps, pedicled gracilis musculocutaneous flaps, propeller flaps and locoregional flaps. In some cases, surgery was performed after 60 days of hospitalization or ten years after ulcer occurrence. We reviewed the length of hospital stay, surgical management and patient satisfaction. Patients were followed up to 5 years post-surgery. All flaps survived except for one flap where partial necrosis was observed. The recurrence rate was 9.01% (1/11). One patient underwent another surgery. The general outcome was satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions: Our findings underscore the efficacy of flap reconstruction surgical techniques in the management of pressure ulcers among pediatric patients. Based on our experience and the outcomes observed, we advocate for considering reconstructive surgery as a viable therapeutic option early in the treatment course, particularly for stage 3 and 4 ulcers. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of patients but also holds promise for long-term wound healing and prevention of recurrence.

A clinical observational case series evaluation of a superabsorbent dressing on exudating wounds.

The annual cost to the NHS of managing 3.8 million patients with a wound was estimated in 2020 to be £8.3 billion, of which £5.6 billion was spent on the 30% of wounds that did not heal and £2.7 billion on the 70% of wounds that healed (Guest, 2020). One of the main symptoms associated with chronic 'hard-to-heal' wounds is the production of excess exudate (Atkin et al, 2019). This is due to a prolonged chronic inflammatory response stimulated by a physiological cause. This article describes what exudate is and its importance in the wound healing process, highlighting the consequences of too little or excessive wound exudate associated with any wound. The article goes on to describe a case series observational study involving a range of patients (n=47; 33 male/14 female), aged between 33 and 91 years (mean 67.4 years), with a variety of acute (n=11) and chronic exuding wounds (n=44). In total, 55 wounds of various aetiologies were managed with DryMax Super (a dressing whose design includes superabsorbent polymers) in order to evaluate and report on the absorption and fluid-handling properties of the product.

Changes of transcutaneous oxygen pressure in compressed areas of surgical patients: A prospective study of influencing factors.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcpO2) measurement values and changes in compressed areas of surgical patients before and after surgery and to explore the related factors influencing the tcpO2 changes before and after surgery. METHODS: Researchers selected 100 patients who underwent elective surgery in a tertiary comprehensive hospital from November 2021 to September 2022. A self-designed general information questionnaire was used to collect patient general information and disease-related data, including gender, age, smoking and drinking history, hypertension, diabetes, local skin temperature and humidity, related biochemical indicators, and activities of daily living score. Researchers used a transcutaneous oxygen pressure meter to measure and record the tcpO2 of the compressed areas (sacrococcygeal area, scapula area, and heel area) before and after surgery. RESULTS: Among the 100 patients, 37.00 % (37/100) developed type I/II pressure ulcers after surgery, and 30 patients (81.08 %) showed regression within 2 h after surgery. There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative tcpO2 measurement values of the scapula and heel areas between the group with and without pressure ulcers, but the preoperative tcpO2 measurement value of the sacrococcygeal area in the group without pressure ulcers was higher than that in the group with pressure ulcers (P < 0.01). The factors affecting the preoperative tcpO2 measurement value of the sacrococcygeal area were smoking and surgical type. After surgery, the tcpO2 measurement values of the three areas in the group with pressure ulcers were significantly lower than those in the group without pressure ulcers (P < 0.01). Comparing the tcpO2 values of different areas, it was found that the tcpO2 value was lowest in the sacrococcygeal area, followed by the heel area, and the tcpO2 value in the scapula area was highest both before and after surgery (P < 0.01). The main factors affecting the postoperative tcpO2 measurement value were diabetes, Glassgow score, surgical time, and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion. CONCLUSION: The measurement of tcpO2 is related to the incidence of surgically acquired pressure ulcers, and this technology may become an important tool for quantitative assessment of the risk of pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers during the COVID-19 pandemic in intensive care:A multicenter cohort study.

AIM: The objective of the present study is twofold: to describe the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers (PUs) among ICU patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of PUs in this cohort of ICU patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adult critical care patients admitted in two general ICUs of two different countries (Sweden and Portugal) between March 1st, 2020, and April 30th, 2021, through the analysis of the electronic health record database. The prevalence and incidence were calculated, and a multivariate logistic-regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), of possible risk factors of PU development. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1717 patients. The overall prevalence of PU was 15.3 %, and the incidence of ICU-acquired PUs was 14.1 %. Most of the pressure ulcers documented in this study were at the anterior part of the body (45.35 %) and regarding classification, Category 2 (38.40 %) and Category 3 (22.71 %) pressure ulcers together accounted for over fifty percent of the cases recorded. In the multivariate logistic regression model for PU, age, having COVID-19 (OR = 1.58, 95 % CI: 1.20-2.09), use of mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.49, 95 % CI: 1.13 = 1.97), use of vasopressors (OR = 1.31, 95 % CI: 1.00-1.70), having a Braden risk score ≤16 at admission (OR = 1.63; 95 % CI: 1.04-2.56), and length of stay (LOS) (OR = 1.43, 95 % CI 1.03-2.00 if LOS 90-260 h, OR = 2.34, 95 % CI: 1.63-3.35 if LOS >260 h) were associated with the likelihood of developing an ICU-acquired PUs. CONCLUSION: When adjusted for covariates patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk for PU development during the ICU stay compared to patients without COVID-19. Health care personnel in ICU may consider incorporating COVID-19, age, use of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors and estimated LOS in addition to a comprehensive risk assessment including both a risk score and clinical assessment.

Differentiating Pressure Ulcer Risk Levels through Interpretable Classification Models Based on Readily Measurable Indicators.

Pressure ulcers carry a significant risk in clinical practice. This paper proposes a practical and interpretable approach to estimate the risk levels of pressure ulcers using decision tree models. In order to address the common problem of imbalanced learning in nursing classification datasets, various oversampling configurations are analyzed to improve the data quality prior to modeling. The decision trees built are based on three easily identifiable and clinically relevant pressure ulcer risk indicators: mobility, activity, and skin moisture. Additionally, this research introduces a novel tabular visualization method to enhance the usability of the decision trees in clinical practice. Thus, the primary aim of this approach is to provide nursing professionals with valuable insights for assessing the potential risk levels of pressure ulcers, which could support their decision-making and allow, for example, the application of suitable preventive measures tailored to each patient's requirements. The interpretability of the models proposed and their performance, evaluated through stratified cross-validation, make them a helpful tool for nursing care in estimating the pressure ulcer risk level.

Pressure ulcers: aSSKINg framework study.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) represent a burden to the health economy and patients alike. Despite national and international guidelines regarding the management of risk, the incidence and prevalence across England remains high. Detecting early the risk of PUs is paramount, and requires using a valid risk assessment tool alongside clinical judgement and management of associated risk factors. There is a need to implement prevention strategies. Introducing care bundles for pressure ulcers, for example SKIN, SSKIN and most recently aSSKINg, is designed to guide clinicians and reduce variations in care. This article presents a review of the evidence on compliance with guidelines, frameworks, pathways or care bundles within primary and secondary care settings. This article focuses on the literature review that was conducted to inform a subsequent clinical audit of compliance with the aSSKINg framework in a Community NHS Foundation Trust in the South East of England.

A Diagnostic-Driven Prospective Clinical Study Evaluating the Combination of an Antibiofilm Agent and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Each year, millions of Americans develop truncal pressure ulcers (PUs) which can persist for months, years, or until the end of life. Despite the negative impact on quality of life and escalating costs associated with PUs, there is sparse evidence supporting validated and efficacious treatment options. As a result, treatment is based on opinion and extrapolation from other wound etiologies. The ideal reconstructive plan maximizes the patient's nutritional status, incorporates the basic tenets of wound bed preparation (debridement, offloading, proper moisture balance, reduction of bacterial burden), and employs diagnostics to guide therapeutic intervention. The use of combination therapies can potentially overcome several of the barriers to wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), a commonly used modality in the management of PUs, facilitates healing by stimulating the formation of granulation tissue and promoting wound contraction; however, NPWT alone is not always effective. Clinical studies examining microbial bioburden in PUs determined that most ulcers contain bacteria at levels that impede wound healing (>104 CFU/g). OBJECTIVE: Thus, we hypothesized that adding an anti-microbial agent to decrease both planktonic and biofilm bacteria in the wound would increase the efficacy of NPWT. METHOD: In this prospective study, twenty patients with recalcitrant PUs that previously failed NPWT were treated with a biofilm-disrupting agent (Blast-X, Next Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA) in combination with NPWT. Fluorescence imaging was used to follow bacterial burden and guide therapy. RESULTS: In total, 45% of the PUs reduced in size over the course of the four-week study, with a resolution of bacterial fluorescence in the NPWT dressing and wound bed seen in an average of three weeks. CONCLUSION: The combination of an antibiofilm agent and NPWT reduced bacterial levels and improved wound healing in recalcitrant PUs.

Successful Management of Chronic Wounds by an Autophagy-Activating Magnetized Water-Based Gel in Elderly Patients: A Case Series.

Chronic wounds pose a significant threat to human health, particularly for the elderly, and require extensive healthcare resources globally. Autophagy, a key molecular player in wound healing, not only offers a defense against infections but also contributes to the deposition of the extracellular matrix during the proliferative phase. Additionally, it promotes the proliferation and differentiation of endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes. We have recently shown that applying magnetized saline water topically can trigger autophagy in intact skin. In this case series, we document the successful management of five non-infected, difficult-to-heal wounds in elderly patients using a topical autophagy-stimulating gel containing 95% magnetized saline water. The treated wounds included pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, and trauma-related injuries that had shown minimal or no improvement with standard wound therapies over a prolonged period. Application of the autophagy-stimulating gel promoted wound healing, as indicated by reduced fibrous and necrotic tissue, granulation tissue formation, re-epithelialization, and partial or complete wound closure. These preliminary case studies suggest that a topical gel containing magnetized saline water, which promotes autophagy, may aid healing of chronic wounds in elderly patients. Further investigation is warranted to explore the potential of this novel approach, as it may offer a valuable addition to the existing arsenal of wound care treatments for the aging population, particularly in addressing difficult-to-heal wounds.

Pressure ulcers acquired during inpatient rehabilitation after spinal cord injury, characterization and predictors: A 15-years' experience.

BACKGROUND: Most studies focus on the risk factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers (PUs) during acute phase or community care for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to i) compare clinical and demographic characteristics of inpatients after SCI with PUs acquired during rehabilitation vs inpatients without PUs and ii) evaluate an existing PU risk assessment tool iii) identify first PU predictors. METHODS: Individuals (n = 1,135) admitted between 2008 and 2022 to a rehabilitation institution within 60 days after SCI were included. Admission Functional Independence Measure (FIM), American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) and mEntal state, Mobility, Incontinence, Nutrition, Activity (EMINA) were assessed. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were fitted. RESULTS: Overall incidence of PUs was 8.9%. Of these, 40.6% occurred in the first 30 days, 47.5% were sacral, 66.3% were Stage II. Patients with PUs were older, mostly with traumatic injuries (67.3%), AIS A (54.5%), lower FIM motor (mFIM) score and mechanical ventilation. We identified specific mFIM items to increase EMINA specificity. Adjusted Cox model yielded sex (male), age at injury, AIS grade, mFIM and diabetes as PUs predictors (C-Index = 0.749). CONCLUSION: Inpatients can benefit from combined assessments (EMINA + mFIM) and clinical features scarcely addressed in previous studies to prevent PUs.

Prevention of nostril lacerations in endonasal drilling procedures by use of a conventional protective ear speculum.

PURPOSE: Injuries of the nasal vestibular skin caused by the rotating burr shafts can represent a tedious complication following endonasal drilling and is experienced sooner or later by every rhino-surgeon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To protect the nasal entrance from laceration by the free rotating drill shaft we position an otology speculum in the nasal entrance. The speculum is held in place by the scrub nurse during the critical phase of bone drilling. RESULTS: Following the introduction of the ear speculum protection, we successfully treated our dacryocystostamia procedures (n = 27) and median maxillectomia procedures (n = 6) without any further soft tissue erosions. DISCUSSION: Preventive measures for injuries by endonasal drilling procedures are not reported extensively in literature. This stands in contrast to the fact that these injuries are prone to cause significant suffering as amply described in the case of nostril laceration due to nasogastric intubation or nasogastric feeding tubes. CONCLUSION: The use of a readily available, reusable ear speculum in endonasal drill application eliminated the complication of nasal entrance lacerations throughout our institution, hitherto.

Evaluating the efficacy of standardized pressure ulcer management protocols in the prevention of pressure injuries among patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Pressure injuries are a significant concern for patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures due to prolonged immobility and the complexity of care. This study evaluates the efficacy of standardized pressure ulcer management protocols in preventing pressure injuries and enhancing patient care in a neurosurgical context. A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted at a single institution from December 2020 to December 2023, comparing 50 patients who received standardized pressure ulcer management (intervention group) with 50 patients who received conventional care (control group). The study assessed the incidence of pressure ulcers, patient comfort levels using the Kolcaba Comfort Scale and sleep quality using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 27.0, applying t-tests and chi-square tests as appropriate. The intervention group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of pressure ulcers at all measured time points post-surgery compared to the control group. Patient comfort levels in the intervention group were consistently higher across psychological, environmental, physiological and socio-cultural domains. Sleep quality metrics, including sleep depth, latency to sleep onset and overall sleep quality, were significantly improved in the intervention group. The implementation of standardized pressure ulcer management protocols in neurosurgical care significantly reduces the incidence of pressure injuries, enhances patient comfort and improves sleep quality. These findings highlight the importance of adopting structured care protocols to improve postoperative outcomes and patient well-being in neurosurgical settings.

Acral melanoma of the heel mimicking a pressure sore.

Background: The clinical appearance of acral melanoma is diverse and can cause diagnostic difficulties in individual cases. Case description: We present a clinical case of an 83-year-old patient with a melanoma in the heel area that was initially interpreted as a pressure ulcer, resulting in delayed and more complicated treatment. Conclusions: Melanomas should be included in the differential diagnosis even in "typical" pressure ulcer areas. Against the background of increasingly poor healthcare in rural areas, an increase in such cases can be expected.

Wound care in older people: overcoming the challenges of assessment and management.

Age-related skin changes lead to increased susceptibility to skin damage and delayed wound healing, which is exacerbated by comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. In some cases, wound healing is not achievable or realistic and this needs to be reflected in the wound management plan. To improve outcomes and experience in older people presenting with wounds it is important to select wound management products that protect the wound bed and surrounding skin, minimise trauma, reduce symptoms and/or promote healing. This article explores how conducting holistic wound assessments, setting realistic treatment aims, and using wound management strategies tailored to each person's needs and wishes can have a positive effect on older people's quality of life.

Effects of predictive nursing interventions on pressure ulcer in elderly bedridden patients.

The study explores the impact of predictive nursing interventions on pressure ulcers (PUs) in elderly bedridden patients. A total of 120 elderly bedridden patients from the Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture between August 2019 and August 2023 were selected as the subjects of the study and were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table method. The control group received conventional nursing care, while the observation group received predictive nursing interventions. The study compared the incidence of PUs, Braden scale scores, the onset time of PUs, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores, self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores, and nursing satisfaction between the two groups. In elderly bedridden patients, the application of predictive nursing interventions significantly reduced the incidence of PUs (p < 0.001), significantly lowered the SAS and SDS scores (p < 0.001), and also significantly increased Braden scale scores (p < 0.001) and delayed the onset time of PUs (p < 0.001). Additionally, it improved patients' nursing satisfaction (p = 0.008). Predictive nursing interventions in elderly bedridden patients have good application effects, reducing the occurrence of PUs, delaying the time of onset in patients, improving patients' negative emotions and enhancing nursing satisfaction rates. It is worthy of widespread use.

Effects of predictive nursing interventions on pressure ulcer in older bedridden patients: A meta-analysis.

To evaluate the effect of predictive nursing interventions on pressure ulcers in elderly bedridden patients by meta-analysis. Applied computer searches of PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of predictive nursing in preventing pressure ulcers in elderly bedridden patients from the database inception to November 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and performed quality assessment based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Stata 17.0 software was utilised for data analysis. Eighteen RCTs involving 6504 patients were finally included. The analysis revealed the implementation of predictive nursing interventions had a significant advantage in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in elderly bedridden patients compared with conventional nursing (odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15-0.28, p < 0.001), while the patients' satisfaction with nursing care was higher (OR = 3.70, 95% CI: 2.99-4.57, p < 0.001). This study shows that the implementation of a predictive nursing interventions for elderly bedridden patients can effectively reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers and significantly improve patients' satisfaction with nursing care, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

One Month Prediction of Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Home Residents with Bayesian Networks.

OBJECTIVES: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common and avoidable condition among residents of nursing homes, and their consequences are severe. Reliable and simple identification of high-risk residents is a major challenge for prevention. Available tools like the Braden and Norton scale have imperfect predictive performance. The objective is to predict the occurrence of PUs in nursing home residents from electronic health record (EHR) data. DESIGN: Longitudinal retrospective nested case-control study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: EHR database of French nursing homes from 2013 to 2022. METHODS: Residents who suffered from PUs were cases and those who did not were controls. For cases, we analyzed the data available in their EHR 1 month before the occurrence of the first PU. For controls, we used available data 1 month before an index date adjusted on the delays of PU onset. We conducted a Bayesian network (BN) analysis, an explainable machine learning method, using 136 input variables of potential medical interest determined with experts. To validate the model, we used scores, features selection, and explainability tools such as Shapley values. RESULTS: Among 58,368 residents analyzed, 29% suffered from PUs during their stay. The obtained BN model predicts the occurrence of a PU at a 1-month horizon with a sensitivity of 0.94 (±0.01), a precision of 0.32 (±0.01) and an area under the curve of 0.69 (±0.02). It selects 3 variables: length of stay, delay since last hospitalization, and dependence for transfer. This BN model is suitable and simpler than models provided by other machine learning methods. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: One-month prediction for incident PU is possible in nursing home residents from their EHR data. The study paves the way for the development of a predictive tool fueled by routinely collected data that do not require additional work from health care professionals, thereby opening a new preventive strategy for PUs.

Differences of bioelectrical impedance in the development and healing phase of pressure ulcers and erythema in mouse model.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are economically burdensome medical conditions. Early changes in pressure ulcers are associated with erythema. In this study, bioelectrical impedance was used to measure the differences between PUs and blanchable erythema. We divided 21 ICR mice into three groups: control, 1000 mmHg-1h, and 1000 mmHg-6h. Healthy skin, blanchable erythema, and PUs were induced on the dorsal skin. The results indicated an immediate increase in impedance, resistance, and reactance values in the pressure group after release, followed by a subsequent decrease until two days after release. Compared with the control group, impedance and reactance significantly increased by 30.9% (p < 0.05) and 30.1% (p < 0.01), respectively, in the 6 h-loading group immediately after release. One and two days after release, the 1 h-loading and 6 h-loading groups exhibited significantly different degrees of decline. One day after release, impedance and resistance decreased by 30.2% (p < 0.05) and 19.8% (p < 0.05), respectively, in the 1 h-loading group; while impedance, resistance, and reactance decreased by 39.2% (p < 0.01), 26.8% (p < 0.01), and 45.7% (p < 0.05), respectively, in the 6 h-loading group. Two days after release, in the 1 h-loading group, impedance and resistance decreased by 28.3% (p < 0.05) and 21.7% (p < 0.05), respectively; while in the 6 h-loading group, impedance, resistance, and reactance decreased by 49.8% (p < 0.001), 34.2% (p < 0.001), and 59.8% (p < 0.01), respectively. One and two days after release the pressure group reductions were significantly greater than those in the control group. Additionally, we monitored changes during wound healing. Distinguishing early PUs from blanchable erythema by noninvasive bioelectrical impedance technology may have applications value in early assessment of PUs.