Schank Joy E
Ostomy Wound Manage. 2009 Sep 15;55(9):40-4.
The Kennedy Terminal Ulcer (KTU) is an unavoidable skin breakdown or skin failure that occurs as part of the dying process. Research is limited but the literature suggests that KTUs are typically pear-shaped, red/yellow/black, similar in appearance to an abrasion, and tend to occur suddenly in the sacral/coccygeal region not long before death. In this case study, one resident of a long-term care facility suddenly developed a full-thickness ulcer. The ulcer did not respond to treatment and the resident died 6 weeks following ulcer development. Another resident, admitted with a full-thickness ulcer, also did not respond to standard measures of care and general skin failure was observed. She died after 5 months. Research about end-of-life phenomena such as skin failure is needed to help clinicians, caregivers, and patients understand what is occurring and facilitate the provision of optimal and appropriate end-of-life care.
肯尼迪终末期溃疡（KTU）是临终过程中不可避免出现的皮肤破损或皮肤衰竭。相关研究有限，但文献表明，KTU通常呈梨形，颜色为红/黄/黑，外观类似擦伤，往往在死亡前不久于骶骨/尾骨区域突然出现。在本案例研究中，一名长期护理机构的居民突然出现了全层溃疡。该溃疡对治疗无反应，该居民在溃疡出现6周后死亡。另一名患有全层溃疡入院的居民，对标准护理措施也无反应，并出现了全身性皮肤衰竭。她在5个月后死亡。需要开展关于皮肤衰竭等临终现象的研究，以帮助临床医生、护理人员和患者了解正在发生的情况，并促进提供最佳和适当的临终护理。
