STOMATHERAPY IN CRITICAL CARE: THE NURSE'S ROLE IN THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SKIN LESIONS IN THE ICU

Abstract

This chapter examines stomatherapy as a specialized field of nursing focused on preventing and managing skin injuries in patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This narrative literature review aimed to analyze the nurse’s role, with particular emphasis on the stomatherapy nurse, in preventing and treating the skin injuries most prevalent among critically ill patients, including pressure injuries, moisture-associated skin damage, and medical device-related injuries. The research involved a survey of scientific articles, regulatory documents, and institutional protocols published in the LILACS, BDENF, and SciELO databases and retrieved through Google Scholar between 2013 and 2025. The findings show that systematic risk assessment, particularly through the Braden Scale, combined with preventive measures such as scheduled repositioning, the use of appropriate support surfaces, the preservation of skin integrity, and careful medical device management, significantly reduces the incidence of these injuries. The findings also indicate that the work of nurses specializing in stomatherapy enhances the quality of care by improving the technical competence of the multidisciplinary team and supporting evidence-based clinical decision-making. It is concluded that systematized nursing care, together with continuing education and the adoption of institutional protocols, is an essential strategy for ensuring the safety of critically ill patients and reducing healthcare costs arising from preventable skin injuries.