OR Time and Sacral Pressure Injuries in Critically Ill Surgical Patients

: Critically ill patients are at risk for developing pressure injuries during operative and other invasive procedures. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore the relationship of OR time to sacral pressure injuries in critically ill patients using high frequency ultrasound as a method of assessment. The 41 participants examined in this study had both time in the OR and up to eight days of pressure injury data. The multivariable model containing OR bed time, body mass index, and Braden Scale score produced the best prediction of pressure injury (area under the curve = 0.859). A higher body mass index (P = .09), shorter OR bed time (P = .01), and lower Braden Scale score (P = .05) were associated with a greater chance of pressure injury. These results suggest that use of high frequency ultrasound may identify tissue changes before observable skin changes, leading to earlier pressure injury prevention strategies.