Förekomsten av trycksår hos patienter som genomgår brachybehandling vid prostatacancer

Sammanfattning: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One type of treatment is internal radiation therapy, brachytherapy. This treatment requires the patient to lie completely motionless and in lithotomy position. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pressure ulcers associated with brachytherapy in prostate cancer at the UniversityHospitalin Uppsala. Furthermore, the purpose was to identify the most common location of pressure ulcer and to examine whether there were any connection between risk factors and possible pressure ulcers. Thirty patients participated in the study. The data collection was carried out partly by the nurse anesthetist and partly by the nurse in the oncology ward in fall 2009 to spring 2010. The study showed that seven of thirty patients (23.3%) developed pressure ulcers after brachytherapy. All of these were stage 1 according to EPUAP's pressure ulcer scale. Only one of the patients (3.3%) had remaining pressure ulcer the day after treatment. The most common location were lower legs/calves (16.7%). No statistically significant relationship was found between risk factors and the development of pressure ulcers. The results of this study showed a relatively high incidence of pressure ulcers (23.3%). All of stage 1 and only one of the pressure ulcers were remaining the day after brachytherapy. This indicates a good pressure-relieving measures and equipment, and that the patients in this study have a relatively good general          condition.Keywords: brachytherapy, pressure ulcers, lithotomy position, risk factors