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BEDSORES PREVENTION |
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It is usually possible to prevent
bedsores from developing or worsening. The patient should be
inspected regularly; should bathe or shower every day, using warm
water and mild soap; and should avoid cold or dry air. A bedridden
patient should be repositioned at least once every two hours while
awake. A person who uses a wheelchair should shift his weight every
10 or 15 minutes, or be helped to reposition himself at least once
an hour. It is important to lift, rather than drag, a person being
repositioned. Bony parts of the body should not be massaged. Even
slight friction can remove the top layer of skin and damage blood
vessels beneath it. If the patient is bedridden, sensitive body parts can be protected by: Sheepskin pads Special cushions placed on top of a mattress A water-filled mattress A variable-pressure mattress whose sections can be individually inflated or deflated to redistribute pressure. Pillows or foam wedges can prevent a bedridden patient's ankles from irritating each other, and pillows placed under the legs from mid-calf to ankle can raise the heels off the bed. Raising the head of the bed slightly and briefly can provide relief, but raising the head of the bed more than 30 degrees can cause the patient to slide, thereby causing damage to skin and tiny blood vessels. A person who uses a wheelchair should be encouraged to sit up as straight as possible. Pillows behind the head and between the legs can help prevent bedsores, as can a special cushion placed on the chair seat. Donut-shaped cushions should not be used because they restrict blood flow and cause tissues to swell. |
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