The Unpreventable (Unavoidable) Pressure Ulcer on the Sacrum and Heel

Course Description

Moderator/Speaker: Joyce Black, PhD, RN, CWCN, FAAN
Speaker: Janet Cuddigan, RN, PhD, CWCN, FAAN

There are a number of clinical situations that render a pressure ulcer unpreventable. These include severe hypotension necessitating vasopressors, hemodynamic instability restricting movement, operative procedures, obesity, calcified or occluded vasculature, severe anemia, edema, patient non-adherence and the dying process. Pressure ulcer formation is usually multifactorial and is often a complex process that cannot be halted. Even with appropriate preventative interventions, the burden of disease often overwhelms the viability of skin. This session will explore the physiological, clinical and tissue tolerance related to unpreventable pressure ulcer development.