Úlceras por presión en pacientes hospitalizados

Pressure ulcers (PU) are ischemic lesions located at the skin and underlying tissues with skin loss by prolonged pressure or friction between two hard planes. Almost 60,000 hospital patients in the United States are estimated to die each year from complications due to pressure ulcers acquired inpatient level and the estimated cost of treatment is about 11,000 billion of dollars per year. These skin lesions are a common and serious problem in the elderly, represent one of the major complications of immobility syndrome. They are associated with longer hospital stay, sepsis and increased mortality rate, so that appropriate prevention and management in hospitals are an indicator of quality.