Effect of fluid filled support surface utilization on prevention of pressure ulcer in the operating room

This randomized, controlled, experimental research was carried out with the aim of determining the effect of fluid filled support surface utilization on prevention of pressure ulcer.The study was carried out with a total of 60 patients (30 in test group and 30 in control group) who underwent surgery in orthopedics and neurosurgery clinics of Gazi University Research and Training Hospital.Data were collected between February 2011 and May 2011 using `Patient Characteristics Form? developed by the researcher in the light of literature, `Braden Risk Assessment Scale? and `Pressure Ulcer Staging Form?. Written approval was obtained from the institution and informed consent was obtained from the patients prior to the study.Patients who were in the moderate and high risk groups according to Braden Risk Assessment Scale were randomly assigned to test and control groups one day before the operation. Fluid filled support surface was placed onto the operating table of the patients in expirement group whereas patients in control group were operated on standard operating tables. Skin of the patients were examined on postoperative 30. min, 1., 2. 3.days and results were recorded to `Pressure Ulcer Staging Form?.Data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Student?s t-test, Qui-square test, Fisher?s exact test, Pearson correlation analysis, number and percentage calculations were used.As the result of the study, test and control groups were found to be similar in terms of factors affecting pressure ulcer development and a statistically significant difference was not found between groups. Pressure ulcer was observed to develop in one patient in test group and in 15 patients in control group (p<0.05). A relationship was found between Braden Risk Assessment Score Scale and operation time and pressure ulcer development.Support surface usage has been offered to use for patients in risk groups.Key words: Pressure ulcer, support surface, operating room, nursing