Ch 48: Skin & Wound Care Flashcards
pressure ulcer
localized injury to the skin and other underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction
tissue ischemia
pressure applied over a capillary exceeds the normal capillary pressure and the vessel is occluded for a prolonged period of time. if the pt has reduced sensation and cannot respond to the discomfort of the ischemia, tissue death can result.
blanching
normal red tones of the light-skinned patient are absent. it does not occur in pts with darkly pigmented skin.
Stage I Pressure Ulcer
nonblanchable redness of intact skin, usually a bony prominence. area may be painful, firm, soft, warmed, or cooler than adjacent tissue.
should use no dressing, transparent dressing, or hydrocolloid dressing to cover.
Stage II Pressure Ulcer
partial-thickness loss of dermis. presents as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed without slough. may also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled or serosangineous filled blister.
should use composite film, hydrocolloid, or hydrogel dressings to cover.
Stage III Pressure Ulcer
full-thickness tissue loss. subcutaneous fat may be visible, but bone, tendon, or muscle is NOT exposed. some slough may be present and it may include undermining and tunneling.
should use hydrocolloid, hydrogel covered with foam dressing, calcium alginate, gauze, or growth factors (with gauze) to cover.
Stage IV Pressure Ulcer
full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. slough or eschar may be present. it often includes undermining and tunneling. depth varies by anatomical location.
should use hydrogen covered with foam dressing, calcium alginate, gauze, or growth factors (with gauze) to cover.
Unstageable/Unclassified
full-thickness tissue loss in which actual dept of the ulcer is completely obscured by slough and/or eschar in the wound bed. until enough slough and/or eschar are removed to expose the base of the wound, the tru depth cannot be determined; but it is either stage III or stage IV.
should use adherent film, gauze plus ordered solution, enzymes, or no dressing to cover.
Suspected Deep-Tissue Injury - Depth Unknown
purple or maroon localied area of discolored intact skin or blood-filled blister caused by damage of underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear. may be difficult to detect in pts w/ dark skin tones.
granulation tissue
red, moist tissue composed of new blood vessels, the presence of which indicates progression toward healing.
slough
soft yellow or white tissue, stringy substance attached to wound bed. must be removed before the wound is able to heal.
eschar
black or brown necrotic tissue, needs to be removed before healing can proceed.
exudate
the amount, color, consistency, and odor of wound drainage. excessive exudate indicates infection.
wound
disruption of the integrity and function of tissues in the body. ALL WOUNDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL!
approximated
closed
healing by primary intention
surgical incisions. skin edges are approximated, risk of infection is low, healing occurs quickly, minimal scar formation
healing by secondary intention
wound is left open until it becomes filled by scar tissue, takes longer to heal; thus chance of infection is greater. if scarring is severe, loss of tissue function is often permanent.
components of partial-thickness wound repair (3)
- inflammatory response: limited to first 24 hours after wounding. redness and swelling w/ moderate amount of serous exudate.
- epithelial proliferation (reproduction) & migration: start at both wound edges and epidermal cells lining epidermal appendates; quick resurfacing. open to air = 6-7 days. kept moist = 4 days.
- reestablishment of the epidermal layers: cells slowly reestablish normal thickness and appear as dry, pink tissue.
phases of full-thickness wound repair (4)
- hemostasis
- inflammatory phase
- proliferative phase
- remodeling
hemostasis
series of events designed to control blood loss, establish bacterial control, and seal the defect. injured blood vesselt constrict, and platelets gather to stop bleeding. clots form a fibrin matrix that later provides a framework for cellular repair.
inflammatory phase
damaged tissue and mast cells secrete histamine resulting in vasodilation of surrounding capillaries and exudation of serum and WBCs into damaged tissues. results in localized redness, edema, warmth, and throbbing.
within hours leukocytes (akaWBCs) arrive: neutrophils begin to ingest bacteria and small debris, monocytes transform into macrophages and clean wound of bacteria, dead cells, and debris via phagocytosis. as early as day 2 collagen is synthesized (main component of scar tissue).
proliferative phase
lasts from 3 to 24 days. filling of the wound w/ granulation tissue, contraction of the wound, and resurfacing of the wound by epithelialization. fibroblasts synthesize collagen which mixes w/ granulation tissue to support epithelialization. wound contracts and epithelial cells migrate from wound edges to resurface.
remodeling phase
sometimes takes place for more than a year, depending on depth and extent of wound. collagen scar reorganizes and gains strength for several months. usually scar tissue contains fewer pigmented cells (melanocytes) and has a lighter color than normal skin. in dark-skinned individuals the scar may be more highly pigmented than surrounding skin.
hemorrhage
bleeding from a wound site, normal during and immediately after initial trauma
hematoma
localized collection of blood underneath the tissues. appears as a swelling, change in color, sensation, or warmth or mass that often takes on a bluish discoloration.
purulent
odorous yellow, green, or brown colored drainage
dehiscence
the partial or total separation of wound layers. poor nutritional status, infection, and obesity are risk factors (obesity has higher risk b/c of constant strain placed on their wounds and poor healing qualities of fat tissue).
Braden Scale
pressure ulcer risk assessment tool. composed of six subscales: sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear. the total score ranges from 6 to 23; a lower score indicates a higher risk for pressure ulcer development. the cutoff score for onset of pressure ulcer risk in the general adult population is 18.
abrasion
superficial wound with little bleeding and is considered a partial-thickness wound.
laceration
sometimes bleeds more profusely, depending on the depth and location of the wound.
puncture
wound that bleeds in relation to the depth and size of the wound. ex: a nail puncture does not cause as much bleeding as a knife wound.
serous
type of wound drainage: clear, watery plasma
serosanguineous
type of wound drainage: pale, pink, watery; mixture of clear and red fluid
sanguineous
type of wound drainage: bright red; indicates active bleeding
hemorrhage
bleeding from a wound site, normal during and immediately after initial trauma
hematoma
localized collection of blood underneath the tissues. it appears as a swelling, change in color, sensation, or warmth or mass that often takes on a bluish discoloration.
dehiscence
partial or total separation of wound layers. a pt who is at risk for poor wound healing (poor nutritional status, infection, or obesity) is at risk for dehiscence. Obese pts have a higher risk b/c of the constant strain placed on their wounds and the poor healing qualities of fat tissue.
evisceration
total separation of wound layers with protrusion of visceral organs through a wound opening. This is a surgical emergency because blood supply to the organs protruding through the wound is compromised.
penrose drain
drain that lies under a dressing; at the time of placement a pen or clip is placed through the drain to prevent it from slipping farther into the wound. it is usually the health care provider’s responsibility to pull or advance the drain as drainage decreases to permit healing deep within the drain site.
evacuator units
Hemovac or Jackson-Pratt. drains that exert a constant low pressure as long as the suction device (bladder or container) is fully compresses. often referred to as self-suction.