Basic principles

Question 1

Purposes of surgery (4)

Answer 1

Diagnostic, prophylactic, therapeutic, pallative

Question 2

Characteristics of a clean wound

Answer 2

Non-traumatic/elective

No break in asepsis

Question 3

Characteristics of a clean contaminated wound

Answer 3

Non-traumatic/elective
Minor break in asepsis
Resp/urogenital/GI tract opened (with control)

Question 4

Characteristics of a contaminated wound

Answer 4

Fresh traumatic wound
Major break in asepsis
eg. GI tract spillage, infected urogenital tract entered
NEED PROPHYLACTIC A/B

Question 5

Characteristics of a dirty wound

Answer 5

Foecal contamination/purulent discharge/FB

NEED PROPHYLACTIC A/B

Question 6

List Halstead’s principles (6)

Answer 6

Aseptic technique
Sharp anatomic dissection
Careful tissue handling
Careful haemostasis
Avoid tension
Obliteration of dead space

Question 7

Name the 4 surgical wound classifications

Answer 7

Clean, clean contaminated, contaminated, dirty