Main description:

Pressure ulcers, also referred to as pressure sores, bedsores and decubitus ulcers, can range from a very mild pink coloration of the skin, which disappears in a few hours after the pressure is relieved, to a very deep wound extending to and in very serious cases sometimes through a bone and into internal organs. There are many similarities to burn wounds in terms of the course of injury, but the primary cause of pressure ulcers is unrelieved pressure to the skin, while secondary causes include exposure to cold or skin abrasion. Other contributing factors to the development of pressure ulcers include poor nutrition, weight loss and diabetes, all of which are prevalent in the modern developed world.

This book will establish the clinical and scientific basis behind effective pressure ulcer management. Aimed squarely at dermatology clinicians and vascular surgeons, this text is designed to be the primary reference for pressure ulcers from diagnosis and prevention to management and treatment options. In addition, dermatology nursing and clinic staff and interns will also gain much from reading this text. The contributing authors are all experts in the management of pressure ulcers and will provide a valuable clinical compendium for this difficult area of medicine.

Feature:

Only textbook for clinicians on pressure ulcers and their management

Extensive high-quality illustrations from key opinion leaders in pressure ulcer management

Only textbook supported and endorsed by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory panel, the leading European authority on pressure ulcers

Back cover:

Science and Practice of Pressure Ulcer Management establishes the clinical and scientific basis behind effective pressure ulcer management. Essential reading for dermatology clinicians and vascular surgeons, and having been developed under the auspices of EPUAP (European Pressure Ulcer Advisery Panel), this text is the primary reference for pressure ulcers from diagnosis and prevention to management and treatment options. Dermatology nursing and clinic staff, as well as interns, gain important insight from reading this book. The contributing authors are all experts in the management of pressure ulcers and will provide a valuable clinical compendium for this difficult area of medicine. Numerous detailed illustrations, many in color, and tables are included to enhance the text.

Contents:

Scale of the Problem.- Quality of Life.- Recent Advances in Pressure Ulcer Research.- Etiology and Risk Factors.- Pressure Ulcer Classification.- Risk Assessment.- Equipment Selection.- Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Repositioning.- Skin Care.- Nutrition: A New European Guideline.- Clinical and Instrumental Assessment.- Wound Bed Preparation.- Conservative Management of Pressure Ulcers.- Surgical Management of Pressure Ulcers.- Debridement of Pressure Ulcers.- The Role of Bacteria.- Litigation.- The Development, Dissemination, and Use of Pressure Ulcer Guidelines.- Developing a Research Agenda.- The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.- Prevention and Management in the Developing World.- Innovation in Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management.