Preventing Sacral Pressure Ulcer Development in the Surgical Patient Population

Numerous factors place the surgical patient at greater risk for developing a HAPU: transfer shear, moisture, ambient room and body temperature, fluid-filled warming/cooling devices, patient’s BMI and other comorbidities. However, the most significant factor is the amount of time a boney prominence, such as the sacrum, is exposed to pressure. This is the rational for this sacral pressure ulcer improvement project (IP).