ARLINGTON, VA. — The first international guidelines for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers are available for public comment, and a final version will be released in May, according to presenters at the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.
The international collaboration adds a new dimension to the guidelines, NPUAP President Laura Edsberg, Ph.D., said in an interview. “We have expanded the level of evidence that we are sharing,” she said. The draft guidelines result from the joint effort between the NPUAP and the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, based in England.
The treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers has become a hot topic in wound care, because pressure ulcers are among the conditions that Medicare considers preventable and soon will not reimburse hospitals for, if the wounds arise there.
The draft guidelines cover both prevention and treatment. The prevention section details what makes patients vulnerable to pressure ulcers, such as long-term contact with devices including nasal cannulae and tracheostomy plates. But the guidelines also emphasize preventive strategies, such as managing patient nourishment and hydration.
Additional guidelines compare different types of wound dressings, including foam, alginate, and hydrogel. Protocols for cleaning and supporting pressure ulcers, and alternative healing strategies including hydrotherapy, ultrasound, and maggot therapy are addressed.
More information on the draft guidelines and how to comment on them is at the NPUAP Web site, www.npuap.org