This study is a retrospective cohort study comparing 17,391 patients with pressure ulcers undergoing surgery to 17,391 patients without ulcers undergoing surgery. Both groups were matched to have equal ages, sexes, surgical types, anesthesia types, among other factors. The highest post-surgical mortality was among those with pressure ulcers in the 70-79 age group. Furthermore those whose pressure ulcers required debridement or had local infection, cellulitis, or warranted antibiotic treatment had higher 30- day mortality rates after surgery. In general, those with pressure ulcers had an 83% higher risk of 30-day mortality compared to the non-ulcer group. These patients had increased incidences of septicemia, pneumonia, stroke, UTI, and acute renal failure after surgery. This increase in complications and mortality occurs by several mechanisms. Being that these patients have pressure ulcers, they are more likely to be immobilized and thus have diminished ability to clear bronchial secretions, leading to atelectasis and pneumonia. Additionally, the complications of pressure ulcers can also be life-threatening, such as abscesses, cellulitis, bacteremia, sepsis, and osteomyelitis (Chou et. al 2015). Furthermore, patients’ movements can cause ischemia- repercussion injury. Lastly, the inflammation throughout the body resulting from the ulcers increases clots, potentially leading to a stroke.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0127731