unit 229 undertake agreed pressure care
Unit 229
Undertake agreed pressure area care
Describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin
Pressure sores or decubitus ulcers are the result of a constant deficiency of blood to the tissues over a bony area such as a heel which may have been in contact with a bed or a splint over an extended period of time. The surface of the skin can ulcerate which may become infected – eventually subcutaneous and deeper tissues are damaged besides the heel, other areas commonly involved are the skin over the buttocks, sacrum, ankles, hips and other bony sites of the body.
Describe the four stages of a pressure sore
A grade one –pressure ulcer is the most superficial type of ulcer. The affected area of skin appears discoloured and is red in a Caucasian person, and purple or blue in people with a darker complexion. Grade one pressure ulcers do not turn white when pressure is placed on them. The skin remains intact but it may hurt or itch, it may also feel either warm and spongy, or hard.
In grade two-pressure ulcers some of the outer surface of the skin (the epidermis) or the deeper layer of skin (the dermis) is damaged, leading to skin loss. The ulcer looks like an open wound or a blister.
In grade three-pressure ulcers, skin loss occurs throughout the entire thickness of the skin. The underlying tissue is also damaged. However, the underlying muscle and bone are not damaged. The ulcer appears as a deep cavity like wound.
A grade four-pressure ulcer is the most severe type of pressure ulcer. The skin is severely damaged and the surrounding tissue begins to die (tissue necrosis). The underlying muscles or bone may also be damaged. People with grade four pressure ulcers have a high risk of developing a life-threatening infection.
Unit 229
Identify pressure sites of the body
For those individuals that are bed bound they are more likely to suffer with pressure ulcers on their:
• Shoulders and shoulder blades
• Elbows
• Back of the head
•
Undertake agreed pressure area care
Describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin
Pressure sores or decubitus ulcers are the result of a constant deficiency of blood to the tissues over a bony area such as a heel which may have been in contact with a bed or a splint over an extended period of time. The surface of the skin can ulcerate which may become infected – eventually subcutaneous and deeper tissues are damaged besides the heel, other areas commonly involved are the skin over the buttocks, sacrum, ankles, hips and other bony sites of the body.
Describe the four stages of a pressure sore
A grade one –pressure ulcer is the most superficial type of ulcer. The affected area of skin appears discoloured and is red in a Caucasian person, and purple or blue in people with a darker complexion. Grade one pressure ulcers do not turn white when pressure is placed on them. The skin remains intact but it may hurt or itch, it may also feel either warm and spongy, or hard.
In grade two-pressure ulcers some of the outer surface of the skin (the epidermis) or the deeper layer of skin (the dermis) is damaged, leading to skin loss. The ulcer looks like an open wound or a blister.
In grade three-pressure ulcers, skin loss occurs throughout the entire thickness of the skin. The underlying tissue is also damaged. However, the underlying muscle and bone are not damaged. The ulcer appears as a deep cavity like wound.
A grade four-pressure ulcer is the most severe type of pressure ulcer. The skin is severely damaged and the surrounding tissue begins to die (tissue necrosis). The underlying muscles or bone may also be damaged. People with grade four pressure ulcers have a high risk of developing a life-threatening infection.
Unit 229
Identify pressure sites of the body
For those individuals that are bed bound they are more likely to suffer with pressure ulcers on their:
• Shoulders and shoulder blades
• Elbows
• Back of the head
•