The incidence of pressure ulcer in patients on mechanical ventilation andeffects of selected risk factors on pressure ulcer development.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to determine the incidence of pressure ulcers in patients on mechanical ventilation and selected risk factors likely to play a role in pressure ulcer development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 110 patients recruited from an anesthesia critical care unit of a university hospital. Data were collected with a demographic and clinical characteristics form. The form was composed of questions about demographic characteristics and clinical features including diagnosis, duration of mechanical ventilation, general well-being, oxygenation, perfusion, and skin condition. RESULTS: The incidence of pressure ulcer was 15.5%. Duration of mechanical ventilation was longer and the body mass index was higher in patients developing pressure ulcers than in those without pressure ulcers. Additionally, 90.11% of patients with pressure ulcers had edema and 82.35% of patients with pressure ulcers received vasopressin. The patients with pressure ulcers had higher PH levels, lower PaO2 levels, higher PCO2 levels, lower SaO2 levels, and higher urine output. CONCLUSION: It can be recommended that nurses and other health professionals should be aware of factors playing a role in pressure ulcer development and should be able to conduct appropriate interventions to prevent pressure ulcers.

Experiences of pain and satisfaction with pain management in patients undergoing total knee replacement.

PURPOSE: To investigate the features of pain, factors affecting pain, interference with activities, and satisfaction with pain management in patients undergoing total knee replacement. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SAMPLE: Nonrandom sample included 120 patients undergoing total knee replacement. METHODS: Data collected with the Brief Pain Inventory on Day 4 after operation. FINDINGS: The mean pain score was 3.70 on Day 3 after operation. Of all patients, 76.7% had a throbbing and tingling pain at the incision area. Pain most interfered with walking (5.9), exercise (5.8), general activity (5.4), and sleep (4.0). IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is not enough to determine pain severity for pain management. Pain interferes with activities. Therefore, nurses should assess both pain severity and interference with activities and provide pain management, which avoids interference with activates.