Prevalence and Analysis of Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries: Results from the International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey.
Susan A Kayser, Catherine A VanGilder, Elizabeth A Ayello and 1 others
PMID 29782417WHAT IT FOUND
Nasal oxygen tubing was the most common device linked to pressure injuries, especially on the ears.
Device-related injuries were more often facility acquired and formed faster (average 12 vs 15 days), so check skin under devices frequently.
Key findings
01Device-related pressure injuries were present in 0.60% of adults with complete survey data.
02Nasal oxygen devices were the most common device category, accounting for 32% of device-related pressure injuries, and ears were the most common face/head site at 29%.
03Device-related pressure injuries were 75% facility acquired and were recorded after an average of 12 days.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Facilities chose to participate and reported their own data, so the sample may not represent all hospitals or care settings. Records missing stage, location, or admission status were excluded from detailed analysis, so results are based on a subset of the survey. The survey did not count how many patients used each device, so it cannot show which device caused injuries most often. Mucosal pressure injuries were not separated from skin injuries, and the survey lacked options such as lips or mouth, so some device-related injuries may be misclassified. Only adults were included, so findings may not apply to children or neonates. Device-related injuries were very few in long-term care, rehabilitation, long-term acute care, and hospice settings, so comparisons across care settings are limited. The device list did not include an unknown or other option, and 19% of device-related injuries were coded as other or unknown, limiting device interpretation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that nasal oxygen tubing is the most dangerous device. The survey only counted pressure injuries that had already occurred and did not record how many patients used each device, so it cannot show which device causes injuries most often.