Ch 76 - Open Wounds Flashcards
What are the 4 phases of wound healing?
- Inflammation
- Debridement
- Repair
- Maturation
What are the four ‘steps’ of wound healing
- Formation of fibrin-platelet plug
- Recruitment of WBCs to protect from infection
- Neovascularisation and cellular proliferation
- Tissue remodeling
What are the most common locations of a decubital ulcer?
- Greater trochanter
- Lateral elbow
- Lateral hock
Define contamination, colonisation and infection
- Contamination - The presence of microbes on a surface
- Colonisation - Surface microorganisms are replicating
- Infection - Invasion and replication of microorganisms within the tissue
What microbial burden has been associated with a higher rate of infection? What time does it typically take to reach this level?
10^5 CFU/g
Within 6 hours
What is a more relevant calculation of microbial burden?
Microbial burden = (Number of microorganisms x Virulence) / Host Resistance
How does the production of granulation tissue of cats differ to that of dogs?
- Open wounds in cats produce significantly less granulation tissue and is more likely to have a peripheral, rather than central, distribution
At 21 days after wounding, how does epithelialisation and total healing differ in dogs anc cats?
Dogs: epithelialisation 89%, total healing 98%
Cats: epithelialisation 34%, total healing 84%
What are some potential causes of open wounds which fail to progress towards healing?
- Systemic disease (uraemia, herpatic dz, DM, cushings, FIV)
- Malnutrition
- Local tissue hypoxia and ischaemia (Normovolaemia must be maintained, blood transfusin if anaemic)
- Bacterial colonisation
- Altered cellular and stress response
- Repetitive trauma
- Presence of necrotic tissue
- Tension
What are some options to improve wounds which are incapable of forming granulation tissue?
- Omental flaps
- Muscular flaps
- Vascular skin flap for closure
Is tap water hyper-, iso-, or hypotonic?
Hypotonic
What pressure is generally recommended for high pressure irrigation?
How is this best achieved?
5-8 psi
16-22g needle onto a fluid administration set of a 1L bag of fluids under pressure of 300mmHg
List hyperosmotic wound dressings
- Hypertonic saline (20%)
- Honey
- Sugar
List some hydrophilic dressings
- Hydrogel
- Hydrocolloid
- Alginate
Is saline or a balance electrolyte preparation recommended for initial wound preparation? Why?
Balanced electrolyte prep
- Saline is slightly hypoosmolar and is cytotoxic to fibroblasts