concept: tissue integrity Flashcards
risk factors for altered tissue integrity
- age
- nutrition
- genetics
- activity level
- health/chronic illnesses
- medications
- incontinence
- altered mental status
- altered sensation
diagnostics to diagnose tissue integrity
- skin biopsy-differentiates a benign skin lesion from skin cancer
- cultures to identify infections
- immnofluroescent studies, wood’s lamp, potassium hydroxide, and Tzanck test; identify infections
- patch tests or scratch tests determine allergies
laboratory tests used to diagnose tissue integrity
- leukocyte- decreased count may delay healing and increase possibility of infection
- hemoglobin- below normal level indicates poor oxygen delivery to tissues
- blood coagulation- prolonged-results in excessive blood loss; hypercoagulability- leads to clotting
- serum protein analysis- provides indication of body’s nutritional reserves for rebuilding cells
- wound cultures- confirm or rule out presence of infection
- sensitivity studies- helpful in selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy
- albumin- important indicator of nutritional status (should not be below 3.5g/dL)
classifications of alterations in tissue integrity (infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic)
- infectious- bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections (boils, athlete’s foot, ticks, cold sores)
- inflammatory- acne, burns, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis
- neoplastic- malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma
classifications (primary vs. secondary lesions)
- primary lesions- arise from previously healthy skin (macules, patches, papules, nodules, tumors, vesicles, pustules, bullae, and wheals)
- secondary lesions- result from changes in primary lesions (crusts, scales, lichenification, scars, keloids, excoriation, fissues, erosion, ulcers)
classifications (intentional vs. unintentional)
- intentional- occurs during therapy (operations or venipunctures)
- unintentional- accidental (fracture of an arm)
classifications (closed vs. open)
- closed- tissues are traumatized without break in the skin
- open- skin or mucous membrane surface is broken
classifications (clean wounds, clean-contaminated wounds, contaminated wounds, dirty or infected wounds)
- CLEAN WOUNDS- minimal inflammation; uninfected; mostly closed wounds; respiratory, alimentary, genital, and urinary tracts are NOT entered
- CLEAN-CONTAMINATED WOUNDS- surgical wounds; respiratory, alimentary, genital, or urinary tract HAS been entered; no evidence of infections
- CONTAMINATED WOUNDS- open, fresh, accidental wounds and surgical wounds; involve a break in sterile technique or large amount of spillage from the GI tract; show evidence of inflammation
- DIRTY OR INFECTED WOUNDS- wounds containing dead tissue; evidence of clinical infection (purulent drainage)
classification (partial vs. full thickness wounds)
- partial thickness- confined to skin (dermis and epidermis); heal by regeneration
- full thickness- involve dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle and bone; require connective tissue repair
classifications (incision, contusion, abrasion, puncture, laceration, penetrating wound)
- incision- sharp instrument
- contusion- blow from a blunt instrument
- abrasion- surface scrape
- puncture- penetration of the skin and often underlying tissues by sharp instrument
- laceration- tissues torn apart (often from accidents)
- penetrating wound- penetration of skin and underlying tissues
goals of nursing care related to tissue integrity
-control severity of the disease, prevent infection, and promote healing, control discomfort, healing of skin alteration
collaboration with other health care professionals (r/t tissue integrity)
- physical therapist
- dietician
- home health agency
- would care nurse/enterostomal nurse
skills needed to care for patient with tissue integrity issue
- dressing changes
- skin care
- privacy
- aseptic technique
- documentation
What are pharmocological options for tissue integrity issues?
- antibiotics
- antifungals
- antiinflammatory
- glucocorticoids
- pain control
What are potential complications regarding to tissue integrity?
- infection
- mobility issues
- metabolism
- comfort
- elimination
- fluid/electrolyte imbalance
- perfusion