Decubitus ulcers

Decubitus ulcers, or pressure ulcers, are a common, yet serious condition associated with healthcare, most often occurring in the elderly.  The ulcers are associated with soreness, mutilation, protracted healing, as well as with limitation of daily activities (problems with self care and immobility). Decubitus ulcers are very often directly connected to an increasing length of hospitalisation and potential mortality in the healthcare facilities, both emergency and after-treatment. The incidence varies with respect to the type of healthcare provided. 

Daughter: Good morning, nurse. I have a question. My father is hospitalised here and we've been told by the doctor that he has developed a decubitus ulcer. Could you tell us what it is, please?

Nurse: Good morning, Ms Mason. Well, decubitus ulcer is a wound on the skin or tissue caused by pressure or friction. Basically, it is a bed sore. Pressure is the key risk factor for their development, so decubitus ulcers usually occur over bony prominences and are usually located on the heels, sacrum, elbows etc.

 

Daughter: I see. And how do they manifest?

Nurse: Symptoms range from redness to deep tissue lesions, affecting muscles, tendons and bones.

 

Daughter: And how can it be treated? The doctor said my dad is at stage II. What does that mean?

Nurse: The treatment depends exactly on the stage of the ulcer. Stage II is characterised by the formation of open or ruptured blisters filled with clear fluid accompanied by more or less fluid secreted from the wound. While only the epidermis is affected in milder cases, dermis – the layer beneath the epidermis – is damaged in more serious cases.

 

Daughter: Is it painful?

Nurse: Unfortunately, yes, as with any other wound.

 

Daughter: And is there a chance of healing?

Nurse: Healing is very individual and depends on a number of factors. However, we are doing our best to make it heal as quickly as possible.

 

Daughter: Ok, thank you. Good bye.

Nurse: Bye-bye.

soreness	bolestivost, bolení
protracted	dlouhotrvající, zdlouhavý, vleklý
wound	rána, zranění, poranění
pressure	tlak
friction	tření
basically	v podstatě, v základě
bed sore	proleženina
to rupture	prasknout, protrhnout
clear	čirý, čistý; průhledný; jasný
to accompany	doprovázet, doprovodit
to affect	postihnout, zasáhnout, poškodit; ovlivnit
beneath	pod; dole, vespod
to damage	poškodit; pokazit, porouchat, polámat

Lekce angličtiny pro časopis Florence připravuje překladatelská agentura ACP TRADUCTERA (www.traductera.com).

 

Ilustrační foto, zdroj: http://cs.medixa.org

 

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