• Jan Willem H P Lardenoye, Jean A J G Thiéfaine, and Paul J Breslau.
• Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. J.H.P.Lardenoye@lumc.nl
• Dermatol Surg. 2009 Nov 1; 35 (11): 1797-803.

BackgroundPressure ulcers are one of the most frequently registered complications in general surgery.ObjectiveTo obtain insight into the incidence, cause, and consequences of pressure ulcers and to evaluate the value of pressure ulcer registration to assess quality of care.ResultsDuring the 9-year study period, 275 pressure ulcers were registered (5.8% of total registered complications). Age and female sex were independent risk factors for pressure ulcer development. Pressure ulcer classification was as follows: mild (53.3%), moderate (35.6%), severe (9.5%), and irreversible damage (1.5%). Patients undergoing hip surgery and major limb amputation were at risk for pressure ulcer development (10.4% and 8.8%, respectively). In most patients (89.5%), pressure ulcers had no consequences other than local wound therapy; in 12 patients (4.4%), pressure ulceration led to alteration in medication; in 15 patients (5.5%), length of hospital stay was prolonged; and four patients (0.4%) suffered from irreversible damage.ConclusionThe incidence of pressure ulcers is strongly correlated to sex, age, and indication of admittance. Most ulcers were classified as mild and had no consequences. The insight obtained into incidence, cause, and consequences of pressure ulcers can be used as an indicator of quality of provided care if adjusted for case mix and indication of operation.

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