ABSTRACT
Pender and Frazier (2005) found one-fifth of their ICU patients developed pressure sores, although mean arterial blood pressures averaging 47 mmHg in those developing sores and 52 in those that did not, generalisability of this finding is questionable. Up to a quarter of pressure sores in hospitals originate perioperatively, especially with vascular surgery (Scott et al., 2001). Pressure sores increase
■ morbidity (human costs) ■ recovery time ■ mortality ■ financial costs (prolonged stay, additional treatments, litigation).
