Pressure Ulcers Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pressure Ulcers - Research Paper Example One such strategy is use of assessment tools for evaluation. In this essay, the role of assessment tools in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers effectively will be discussed through review of appropriate research articles for evidence-based information. Pressure ulcers are a common source of distress in any health care setting. They contribute to morbidity and mortality and are a significant source of healthcare cost. It is often difficult to treat pressure ulcers because of lack of proper understanding of the complexities involved in the causes of breakdown of skin (Riordan and Voegeli, 2009). This research is intended to evaluate and ascertain the benefits of using assessment tools in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers and in total decrease the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers in any health care setting. The article begins with the prevalence of the pressure ulcers in Europe and the impact they have on the patient, community and society. This is followed by the definition of pressure ulcer. According to the authors, pressure ulcers are "areas of localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by exposure to pressure, shear or friction, or a combination of these." While most of the pressure ulcers affect only the skin, severe forms of ulcers involve other structures like muscle, bone and tendons. Pressure ulcers develop because of sustained high pressure in an area of the body, mostly over the prominences of bones. Due to the raised pressure, the capillaries supplying blood supply to a particular region get compressed resulting in ischemia of the tissue. Other than ischemia, thrombosis of the venous system and occlusion of the lymphatic vessels of the area also are affected because of pressure. All these eventually lead to increased permeability of the capillaries, intersti tial edema and tissue death. The article provides an