Hospitalization Complications Lead to Severe Pressure Ulcer: A Case Study

Case Overview

This case involves an adult individual who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and admitted to the hospital for further management in March. During their hospitalization, the patient developed a large unstageable decubitus ulcer in the sacral region, leading to significant deterioration in their condition. The patient ultimately required surgical debridement of the ulcer but continues to experience serious injuries. This case seeks to explore the standard of care and causation concerning the prevention and management of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients, particularly in the context of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Questions to the Bariatric Surgery expert and their responses

How often do you evaluate and manage patients who develop unstageable decubitus ulcers in the hospital and or nursing home setting?

I have been practicing wound care medicine for over 10 years. I am the medical director of Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine for my hospital.

What are pertinent measures that should be taken to minimize the risk of pressure ulcer development in hospitalized patients?

A hospitalized patient needs to be offloaded with an appropriate mattress, like a group 2 low air loss mattress, and if the patient is in a wheelchair, a ROHO cushion, turned and repositioned every 2 hours in bed and more frequently in a chair. Their nutrition should be optimized. Providers should ensure that fecal and urine are diverted from the wound and that proper hygiene is maintained.

About the expert

This expert has over a decade of experience in the field of general surgery, specializing in both wound care and bariatric surgery. He earned his BS from Fairfield University and his MD from the esteemed Saint George’s University School of Medicine in the West Indies. Thereafter, he completed a surgical residency at Waterbury Hospital and a fellowship in GI, bariatric, and minimally invasive surgery at the Carolinas Medical Center. Today, this expert is board certified in general surgery and is an active member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, among others. In addition to having extensive research experience, he has presented on numerous occasions to professional societies, such as the American Hernia Society and the New England Surgical Society. Formerly, he was the co-director of surgery at the School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, the general surgery residency program site director at Waterbury Hospital, and the chairman of the robotic committee at Midstate Medical Center. Moreover, he was an assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University and at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Most recently, this expert was a surgical attending at Windham Hospital and Midstate Medical Center. Currently, he serves as a surgical attending and as the medical director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine at a hospital in Connecticut.

E-519101

Specialties:

Bariatric Surgery

Hospitalization Complications Lead to Severe Pressure Ulcer