International Consensus Document Offers Greater Clarity on Treatment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers
New insights from global experts on pressure ulcers to be released at the 20th Conference of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) in Geneva
GENEVA—May 25, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE:KCI), a global medical technology innovator and worldwide leader in pressure ulcer therapy and prevention, has partnered with Wounds International to issue a landmark publication that shares the latest insights from global experts on the etiology and the treatment of pressure ulcers. The international consensus guideline will be released at the 20th Conference of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) in Geneva, Switzerland, May 26-28 and will also be the subject of a symposium at the 13th Annual Meeting of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) in Birmingham, UK, September 1-3.
Pressure ulcers affect large numbers of people, causing considerable suffering and healthcare costs. In the UK, for example, about 400,000 people per year develop a new pressure ulcer and the cost of pressure ulcer care has been estimated to account for about 4% of National Health Service expenditure1.
The resource, a consensus document entitled International Review - Pressure, Shear, Friction and Microclimate in Context, was developed following the success of a previous publication about the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers2, and is of relevance to all clinicians involved in preventing pressure ulcers.
Development of the document, which was supported by an unrestricted educational grant by KCI, involved a process of text preparation and review by the expert working group and culminated in group consensus. The three papers in the document - "Pressure in Context," "Shear and Friction in Context" and "Microclimate in Context" - define and explain the science behind each of the extrinsic factors.
Consensus document demystifies the roles of pressure, shear, friction and microclimate in pressure ulcer development and prevention
Clinical teachers widely acknowledge that the concepts involved in understanding pressure, shear, friction and microclimate—as well as their roles in the development of pressure ulcers--are highly challenging: "It is essential that clinicians understand how pressure ulcers develop if we are to provide optimal prevention and treatment measures for our patients," said Keith Harding, professor of Rehabilitation Medicine (Wound Healing), head of Department of Dermatology and Wound Healing, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
The expert group involved in the development of the prevalence and incidence document identified the need for an educational resource that clearly describes the science behind these important extrinsic factors.
"The document deals with the topics so clearly and comprehensively; it will be such a bonus to understanding the issues discussed," said Keryln Carville, associate professor at Silver Chain Nursing Association and Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia.
The latter part of each paper builds on the science described to provide relevant clinical guidance on how to identify patients at risk from each extrinsic risk factor and discusses the types of and rationale for the relevant clinical interventions.
"This document will help clinicians understand what they need to do to prevent pressure ulcers and why and supports the recommendations of the recent international guidelines produced by the NPUAP [National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel] and EPUAP,"3 said Carol Dealey, senior research fellow at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, UK.
"Pressure ulcers present a severe challenge for healthcare professionals, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, as well as compromised quality of life for many patients. By funding this important clinical educational resource for global healthcare professionals, KCI remains committed to supporting clinicians in providing leading prevention and treatment solutions for patients," said Ron Silverman, M.D., FACS, KCI's Chief Medical Officer.
The document is available in English from Wounds International as a downloadable pdf.
About KCI
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE:KCI), is a leading global medical technology company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative, high-technology therapies and products for the wound care, tissue regeneration and therapeutic support system markets. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI's success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in innovation and a passion for significantly improving the healing and the lives of patients around the world.
The Company employs 6,800 people and markets its products in 20 countries. For more information about KCI, and how its products are changing the practice of medicine, visit www.KCI1.com.
About pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers are defined by the NPUAP and EPUAP as "localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear.
- Bennet G, Dealey C, Posnett J. The cost of pressure ulcers in the UK. Age and Ageing 2004; 33: 230-235.
- International guidelines. Pressure ulcer prevention: prevalence and incidence in context. London: MEP Ltd, 2009.
- National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel/European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Pressure Ulcer Prevention & Treatment: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Washington DC, USA: National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, 2009.
SOURCE: Kinetic Concepts, Inc.
For more information, contact:
Media:
Maggie McMahon
Office: +1-210-515-7088
Wireless: +1-210-838-3329
maggie.mcmahon@kci1.com
or
Wounds International:
Kathy Day
Office: +44-20-7960-9655
kday@woundsinternational.com