LIMA, Juliana Martins.
Résumé:
Every patient undergoing surgery is at risk of developing some type of injury
related to surgical positioning, caused by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Pressure injuries are
considered an adverse health-related event and are, in most cases, preventable. However, they
are one of the most common complications in surgical procedures, due to prolonged
restriction of movement or intense pressure during surgery. The importance of early
identification of risk is highlighted through a specific assessment instrument such as the Risk
Assessment Scale for the Development of Injuries Resulting from Surgical Positioning
(ELPO). Objective: To evaluate risk levels according to the criteria of the Risk Assessment
Scale for the Development of Injuries resulting from Surgical Positioning (ELPO) in
intraoperative patients in a university hospital. Methodology: This is an observational, cross-
sectional study with a quantitative design, in which a structured form was used to collect data,
in addition to consulting patient records to obtain additional data. Data collection took place
in August 2023, with a sample of 105 patients, following the adopted inclusion and exclusion
criteria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results and Discussion: Of the
patients, 65.7% were female; 44.8% had a higher body mass index; general surgery was
performed in 27.6% of cases. Based on the scale applied, the following stand out: supine
position (57.1%); opening <90o of the upper limbs (53.3%); regional anesthesia (40%);
Surgical time from 1 hour to 2 hours (40%). The ELPO score found that 55.2% had a low risk
of developing an injury resulting from surgical positioning and 44.8% had a high risk.
Conclusion: It is clear that ELPO can be a valuable tool for nurses in the perioperative
period, helping to plan care and improving the quality of nursing care through the
implementation of effective interventions.
