Assessment of Pressure Injury Risk and Affecting Factors in the Operating Room.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of pressure injury in the operating theater in patients undergoing surgical intervention and to identify the factors contributing to this risk.

Design: This research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study included 203 patients who underwent surgery in a training and research hospital. Data were collected using a patient descriptive information form and the 3S Intraoperative Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale (IPIRAS).

Findings: The mean age of the patients was 54.96% ± 13.43%, and 51.7% were male. Patients aged 61 to 86 years, smokers, and patients with chronic diseases had higher 3S IPIRAS scores (P < .001; P = .020; P < .001, respectively). In addition, patients with joint prosthesis, those who used walking aids, and those with semidependent mobility had higher 3S IPIRAS scores (P = .017; P = .001; P = .003, respectively). In particular, patients who underwent neurosurgery, orthopedics, and gynecology operations and patients in physical status classification of IV had higher 3S IPIRAS scores (P < .001; P < .001, respectively). Patients with high serum albumin levels (4.6-4.8 g/dL) had lower 3S IPIRAS scores (P = .001).

Conclusions: Some individual and surgical characteristics of patients increase the risk of pressure injury in the operating room. Targeted interventions for at-risk populations will contribute to the prevention of pressure injury development.