Critically ill patients are at risk for alterations in skin integrity and pressure ulcer formation. The administration of vasopressors, used to increase arterial blood pressure, is a life-sustaining therapy that can influence the incidence of pressure ulcer formation among critically ill patients. Vasopressors are pharmacologic agents (eg, neosynephrine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin) that constrict arterial blood vessels, thus predisposing the critically ill recipient to tissue ischemia and a heightened risk for pressure ulcer development. Despite the emerging research that links vasopressor administration and pressure ulcer development, prior research has not examined the influence that the type of vasopressor agent, its dose, and duration of administration has on the occurrence of pressure ulcer formation among critically ill patients.
To examine the association between vasopressor administration (eg, type of agent, dose, and duration) and pressure ulcer development, the authors conducted a retrospective, descriptive study. They identified 306 critically ill adults who were admitted...