Preventing Facial Pressure Ulcers in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

BACKGROUND

In patients with acute lung injury and/or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), prone positioning is a therapeutic intervention to improve oxygenation. Positioning a patient in a prone position increases the risk of medical device-related pressure ulcers in the facial area.

CASE STUDIES: This article summarizes experience with 4 patients with ARDS. Two did not receive pressure ulcer preventive measures and subsequently developed multiple necrotic facial pressure ulcers related to prone positioning for treatment of ARDS. The other 2 patients were managed on a thin silicone foam dressing; neither of these patients developed facial pressure ulcers during pronation therapy.

CONCLUSION

The use of thin soft silicone foam dressings may prevent the development of facial deep tissue injuries in patients receiving prolonged pronation therapy.