OH MY, THE PRESSURE!

Abstract

The intraoperative phase of a surgical patient’s hospital stay has been overlooked as a major contributor of pressure ulcers that may arise postoperatively. Pressure ulcers are defined and then the hazards, underlying knowledge, and prevention tactics are reviewed. Bed sore, decubitous ulcer, pressure sore, and pressure ulcer are different terms describing the same problem encountered by medical and surgical patients. The common denominator is pressure — sustained pressure.