Pressure ulcers: new approaches to treatment

Abstract

The urgency of the problem of pressure ulcers does not decrease, despite the achievements of modern medicine. Pressure ulcers occur both in hospital patients and in patients receiving treatment at home or in long-stay institutions. The main reason for the high prevalence of pressure ulcers is the aging of the population and an increase in patients with comorbid pathology. A pressure sore is a localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue that typically occurs over a bony prominence, usually as a result of long-term pressure or pressure combined with shear or friction. The most common sites for pressure ulcers are the skin covering the sacrum, coccyx, heels, and thighs, although other areas may be affected: knees, ankles, back of the shoulders, or back of the skull. From a clinical point of view, a bedsore can be described as an ulcer resulting from pressure. It is believed that the most important factors contributing to the formation of pressure ulcers are continuous pressure, displacement forces, friction and moisture. A large role in the development of ulcers is also played by the limited motor activity of patients, inadequate nutrition and care. In this article, pressure ulcers are considered as a multidisciplinary problem that doctors of various specialties must face. The most effective method of dealing with pressure sores is preventive measures. Modern prevention of bedsores includes a number of areas and should take into account the patient's condition, as well as the capabilities and qualifications of medical personnel. The main goal of the treatment of bedsores is to restore the integrity of the skin, while the tactics of management are largely determined by the staging of the pathological process. Complex treatment of pressure ulcers depends on their stage and includes both pharmacological effects and surgical intervention. One of the components of the treatment of pressure ulcers is to provide nutritional support with integral mixtures enriched with arginine, vitamins, antioxidants, and the micronutrient zinc.

Keywords

• pressure ulcers
• nutritional support
• arginine