Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.47960/2303-8616.2025.1.11.101

THE INFLUENCE OF VASOACTIVE DRUGS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF PRESSURE ULCERS IN THE SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Mateo Jagodin ; Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Vesna Bratić ; Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia *
Matea Briševac ; Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tina Tomić Mahečić ; Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Slobodan Mihaljević ; Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Background: A pressure ulcer (pressure injury) occurs when tissue loading and/or loading
duration exceeds individual tissue tolerance. Risk factors for pressure ulcer development
include mobility/activity limitations, skin condition, perfusion, circulation, oxygenation,
moisture/microclimate, age, and diet. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have additional
risks for the development of pressure ulcers, such as the use of vasoactive drugs, prolonged
treatment in the ICU, the presence of comorbidities (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases,
hypotension), prolonged mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis and sedation, which confirms
the complex nature of pressure ulcer development.
The aim: To examine the influence of vasoactive drugs on the incidence of pressure ulcers in
the surgical intensive care unit.
Subjects and methods: The subjects were all patients with pressure ulcers treated in the
surgical ICU, Clinic for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy,
University Hospital Center Zagreb over a 3-year period. All subjects were assessed for
pressure ulcer risk using the Braden scale.
Results: The incidence of pressure ulcers was 5.7%, with no significant differences in gender
or age. The most common risk factors included pressure, friction, traction, hypotension, and
anemia. In most subjects, the pressure ulcer occurred in the ICU, formed in the sacrum,
gluteal, and ischial regions, and was observed in stage II. Vasoactive drugs were used in all
subjects. Noradrenaline was most commonly used.
Conclusion: Vasoactive drugs were used in all subjects, which indicates their association with
decubitus. In future research, it is necessary to specify the dose, the time of application, to
study each individual vasoactive drug, their synergistic effects, and to include all patients
treated in the ICU, in order to examine the difference between patients with/without pressure
ulcers with regard to the use of vasoactive drugs.

Keywords

pressure ulcer; vasoactive drugs; Braden scale; intensive care unit

Hrčak ID:

331581

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/331581

Publication date:

27.5.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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