Ch 32 Skin integrity/Wound care Flashcards
How to treat venous ulcers?
Treat wound with compression bandages
How to treat arterial ulcers?
- Surgical removal of blockage
- Low cholesterol diet
Factors affecting Skin Integrity:
- State of health
- Immobility (friction and shearing = bed linens)
- Incontinence
- Decreased sensory perception
- Poor nutrition (low level albumin –> edema because fluid is not retain in vessels)
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Diabetes
- Dehydration
- Skin moisture (vitamin C is essential to skin elasticity)
People at greater risk for Skin Breakdown?
- Children < 2 years old
- Older adults
- Thin patients
- Obese patients
Incision
Cutting or sharp instrument: wound edges in close approximation and aligned.
Contusion
Blunt instrument:
- overlying skin remains intact,
- w/ injury to underlying soft tissue
- possible resultant bruising and hematoma
Abrasion
Friction, rubbing or scraping epidermal layer
Laceration
Tearing of skin
- w/ blunt or irregular object
- often w/ loose flaps of skin
Puncture
Blunt or sharp instrument puncturing skin, intentional or accidental.
Penetrating wound
Foreign object entering the skin or mucous membrane and lodging in underlying tissue - possible scattered fragments
Avulsion
Tearing a structure from normal anatomical position
- possible damage to blood vessels, nerves and other structures.
- Vitamin B essential for nerve function
Microbial
Secretion of exotoxins or release of of endotoxins by living organisms.
Chemical
Toxic agents such as drugs, alcohols, metals and substances released from cellular necrosis.
Thermal
High/low T *, cellular necrosis as a possible result.
Irradiation
Ultraviolet light or radiation exposure.
Pressure ulcers
Compromised circulation secondary to pressure combined w/ friction.
Venous ulcers
Injury or poor venous return, resulting from incompetent valves or obstructions.
Arterial ulcers
Injury and underlying ischemia resulting from atherosclerosis or thrombosis.
Diabetic ulcers
Injury and underlying diabetic neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot structure.
Wound Classifications:
1) Intentional
Surgical (planned, clean, low risk of infection)
Wound Classifications
2) Unintentional
Accidental (contamination and infection are likely)
–> delay healing
- If skin is not broken, internal injury –> risk of internal hemorrhage = ecchymosis and hematomas
Other Wound Classifications:
Open = portal of entry, can be unintentional or intentional
Closed = damaged soft tissue
Acute = heals w/out difficulty - low risk of infection
Chronic = does not heal - high risk of infection
Skin thickness loss
What is desiccation?
Process of a wound drying up –> causes a crust over the wound site (localized dehydration)
What is maceration?
Over hydration of the cells related to fecal or urinary incontinence that can lead to impaired skin integrity.
What is “Primary Intention”?
- Clean
- Approximated edges
- Little tissue loss
- Minimum scaring
- Wound closure performed with SUTURES, staples or adhesive
What is “Secondary Intention”?
- Edges not proximate
- Form granulation tissue
- Surgeon may pack wound w/ gauze or use of drainage system
- Longer healing
- More scar tissue
- Often are large open wounds caused by trauma.
What is “Tertiary Intention”?
- Wound is purposely left OPEN
- Cleaned, debrided, observed before closure (heart surgeries)
Phases of Wound Healing:
1) Inflammatory
- 0 to 4-6 days
- pain, heat, redness and swelling (s x s)
- phagocytosis (leukocytes and macrophages)
- epithelialization
S x S:
- elevated T *
- increase in WBCs
- generalized malaise
Phases of Wound Healing:
2) Proliferation
- phase begins w/in 2 or 3 to day ~ 21
- new tissue is formed by fibroblasts
- granulation and revascularization
- wound becomes lighter in color
- systemic symptoms disappear
- HIGH need of adequate nutrition, oxygen, prevention of strain of wound tissue.
Phases of Wound Healing:
3) Maturation
- day 21 to 1-2 years (ex: burn victims)
- collagen deposition and remodeling
- scar tissue becomes smaller
- keloid scars (hyper reaction of scaring)
What cell count increases during a viral infection?
Lymphocytes
- Monocytes help remove bacteria w/ in 12 h.
- If leukocyte shift to the R –> Viral
- If leukocyte shift to the L –> Bacterial
What is “Dehiscence”?
Partial or total separation of wound layers as a result of excessive stress on wounds that are not healed yet.
- Once dehiscence occurs, wound is treated as an open wound.
- -> Cover w/ sterile 0.9% NaCl and notify physician!
What is “Evisceration”?
The wound completely separates w/ protrusion of viscera through incisional area.
- If dehiscence or evisceration occur on an abdominal wound = Emergency!!
Place pt in low Fowler’s
How do wound complications manifest themselves as?
1) Infection:
- occurs w/in day 2-7
- S x S = purulent drainage, increase drainage, pain, redness, swelling, ^ Temp and WBCs
2) Hemorrhage
3) Dehiscence
4) Evisceration
5) Fistula formation= internal organ passage to the outside of body