[Pressure sores in ICU patients--a literature review].

The purpose of this literature study is to gain an insight into the information available on epidemiological aspects, specific factors of risk, risk assessment instruments and preventive measures with respect to pressure sores with adult ICU patients. There are indications that the incidence of pressure sores in the ICU is higher than the average incidence of 3-10% in hospital populations. This higher incidence may be accounted for by specific risk factors, such as history before admission to the ICU, severity of the disease, the risk of prevention measures, the use of special medicine and the nutritional state. Also structural factors, such as the accessibility of prevention means and the unambiguous usage of the registration of pressure sores, play a part. Risk assessment instruments are used to quantify the risk of pressure sores in order to support or evaluate the decision concerning preventive measures. For the ICU risk assessment instruments have to be developed, in which the specific factors of risk are processed. Related to preventive measures the effect of turning and re-positioning the patient on the vital functions should further be investigated. If turning and re-positioning could be started as early as possible and in a responsible way, the demand for expensive measures, like special beds en special mattresses, will possibly decrease. The positive effect of these special beds on the prevention of pressure sores seams to be irrefutable.