Abstract

LOMBA, Lurdes; BESSA, Rita  and  SANTOS, Sílvia. LOCATION AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR PRESSURE ULCERS IN PAEDIATRIC AGE: INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW. Rev Cuid [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.2, pp.1085-1093. ISSN 2216-0973.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.v6i2.169.

Introduction: The pressure ulcers (UP) are a public health problem and an indicator of the poor quality of care. This issue is consensual in adults but not recognized in pediatrics. Although it is considered rare, existing studies prove otherwise. Materials and Methods: An integrative review of literature was conducted online using CINAHL, Academic Search Complete and Elsevier ScienceDirect database and selecting the studies that identified the most frequent anatomical locations of pressure ulcers in pediatrics and the more effective preventive measures. A research from the references of the selected studies was added. From the evaluation of the results, 5 studies were selected: 3 address the most common anatomical locations and 2 focus on effective preventive measures. Results: The most mentioned anatomical sites are the occipital and the sacrococcygeal, existing some discrepancy between authors. Despite the lack of studies about the efficacy of the materials and the measures focusing mainly in adults, the most effective preventive measures selected are the nutritional appointments, alternance of decubitus, and use of cushions to relieve the pressure, having suitable surfaces and applying gel plates. Discussion and Conclusions: Studies reveal a disagreement about the most frequent sites of pressure ulcers, which is justified by the anatomical differences among children and the changes in the pressure locations according to their growth. There is also a dearth of empirical evidence about the effectiveness of the preventive measures. Being vital the recognition of this issue in pediatrics, further investigation is suggested.

Keywords : Pressure Ulcer; Pediatrics; Secondary Prevention.

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