Evaluation of pressure ulcer risk and development in operating rooms

Aim: This study aimed to determine the risk and development of pressure ulcers in operating rooms.Materials and methods: The sample of the study included a total of 250 patients. In the study, the risk of pressure ulcers was assessed before the operation, and the development of pressure ulcers was evaluated within 24 h after the operation.Results: The risk of pressure ulcers was low before the operation, and Stage I pressure ulcer developed in 12.8% of the patients within 24 h after the operation. The patients had pressure ulcers mostly in their sacrum. Their mean 3S Intraoperative Risk Assessment Scale of Pressure Sore score was 15.68 +/- 4.84, suggesting that they were not at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Having a chronic disease (OR = 8.986; 95% CI = 3.697-21.845), under-going general anesthesia (OR = 3.084; 95% CI = 1.323-7.194), and orthopedic surgery (OR =10.172; 95% CI = 3.121-33.155) were statistically significant risk factors for pressure ulcers (p < 0.001). Additionally, moderately edematous skin (OR = 3.838; 95% CI = 1.024-14.386), overweight/underweight (OR = 16.333; 95% CI = 3.779-70.602), intraoperative bleeding greater than 800 ml (OR = 13.000; 95% CI = 3.451-48.969), operation time longer than 5 h (OR = 21.667; 95% CI = 2.122-221.223), moderate intraoperative stress (OR = 4.917; 95% CI = 0.425-56.916), body temperature higher than 38.3 degrees C or lower than 36.1 degrees C (OR = 5.462; 95% CI = 2.161-13.805), and intraoperative prone position (OR = 3.354; 95% CI = 1.386-8.115) were statistically sig-nificant risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers.Conclusion: According to our preoperative pressure ulcer risk assessment, it is very important to take additional protective measures both during and after surgical operations to prevent pressure ulcers.