A prevenção de lesões decorrentes do posicionamento cirúrgico: o interesse da escala ELPO

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, pressure ulcers are widely reported iatrogenic adverse events. The operating room is associated with high incidences of pressure ulcers due to the diversity and specificity of the associated risk factors. Objective: To implement the Risk Assessment Scale for the Development of Injuries due to Surgical Positioning to contribute to the reduction of such injuries and to explore the characteristics of participants associated with the development of these positioning-related injuries. Materials and Methods: This study, conducted as part of a comprehensive continuous quality improvement project in the operating room, is a prospective longitudinal study with a representative sample of 126 patients undergoing surgical procedures who met the inclusion criteria for participation. Results: The sample included 126 patients, with a slight predominance of females. The age group distribution revealed a higher prevalence in the 40 to 59 years age group. On the first postoperative day, 20.7% of the patients (n=24) reported pain due to surgical positioning, with an intensity >7, and on the second postoperative day, two pressure ulcers (1.7%) of category I were recorded. The ELPO scale demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.782, indicating reasonable internal consistency. Conclusion: The scale emerges as an essential guiding instrument to support decision-making regarding the surgical patient approach, aiming to improve the quality of care provided during the perioperative period.