What factor places a patient at greater risk of pressure necrosis and ulceration at the tube site?

• A. Weight gain after tube placement
• B. Weight loss after tube placement
• C. Regular exercise
• D. Adequate hydration

Answer: (A)

When a tube sits at the skin, tissue injury happens when external pressure, friction, and moisture compress skin or shear it enough to impair blood flow. Weight gain after tube placement increases the amount of tissue and skin folds around the entry site, which raises the surface area of contact and the pressure exerted by the tube. Those folds can trap moisture and secretions, softening and macerating the skin and making it more prone to breakdown. In short, more tissue around the site means more pressure and friction on the skin, increasing the risk of pressure necrosis and ulceration.

Regular exercise and adequate hydration help support skin health and circulation, and weight loss would reduce padding around the site but doesn’t create the same increased pressure risk as weight gain.