Skin circulation in areas prone to pressue ulcerationand adjacent nonsusceptible areas as determined by the thermal recovery method

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Title Skin circulation in areas prone to pressue ulcerationand adjacent nonsusceptible areas as determined by the thermal recovery method
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Nursing
Department Nursing
Author Hedegaard, Vern
Date 1984-03
Description Pressure ulcers, also called decubitus ulcers and bed sores, are areas of hypoxemic necrosis resulting from compression of capillaries by externally applied pressure. They most commonly develop in areas of the body subjected to prolonged high pressure, such as the trochanters, sacrum and ischia. Very little is known about the local skin circulation in these areas. Reduction of the magnitude and duration of pressure applied to the body surface have been shown to be effective, scientifically based nursing interventions. Interventions based on increasing skin blood flow, although commonly used, have not shown to be effective or scientifically based. The purpose of this study was to compare the skin circulation of areas prone to pressure ulceration with the skin circulation of adjacent, less susceptible areas. The thermal recovery method was use to estimate the skin blood flow over the trochanter and sacrum, and compared to that over the abdomen and groin. No significant differences were found between the thermal recovery values of the trochanter and groin, or between those of the sacrum and abdomen. Although subject's thermal recovery values varied widely, no significant differences were observed based on site, age, sex, diastolic blood pressure, or height/weight ratio. The results of this study indicate a need for continued study of the skin circulation of areas prone to pressure ulceration. The conclusion of other studies utilizing skin temperature as an index of circulation require reexamination. The emphasis in nursing intervention should continue to be directed toward relieving pressure, rather than increasing skin circulation.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Blood Supply
Subject MESH Skin; Decubitus Ulcer
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MS
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Skin circulation in areas prone to pressue ulcerationand adjacent nonsusceptible areas as determined by the thermal recovery method." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "Skin circulation in areas prone to pressue ulcerationand adjacent nonsusceptible areas as determined by the thermal recovery method." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. QP 6.5 1984 H43.
Rights Management © Vern Hedegaard.
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,126,714 bytes
Identifier undthes,4862
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
Master File Extent 1,126,736 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6g44s42
Setname ir_etd
ID 191416
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6g44s42
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