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The cost of pressure area management in an intensive care unit.

The aim of the study was to determine the cost of prevention and treatment of pressure sores in an intensive care unit. We studied prospectively the cost of pressure area management for one year from April 1, 1990, collecting data on 2482 patient days. The 638 patients were divided into the 'prevention group' (525 patients), who did not have or develop pressure-related tissue injury, and the 'therapy group' (113 patients), who were admitted with or developed a sore. All items and personnel time employed in pressure area management for both groups of patients were documented and costed. Preventive measures for 525 patients cost £79 080, or £150 per patient. Measures for the 113 patients in the therapy group cost £36 200, or £320 per patient. The overall cost for both groups was £1 15 280, or 5% of the unit's annual budget. Only 5% of patients admitted without a sore developed pressure-related tissue damage. The use of special support surfaces contributed to the low incidence of pressure damage in what was considered to be a very high-risk patient population. This was without a significant increase in the mean cost per patient of providing pressure area care.