Hemorrhage And Soft Tissue Trauma Flashcards
Infection
Any open wound is at risk of infection and should
be protected from harmful pathogens
Sign and symptoms of tetanus
•Difficulty swallowing.
•Irritability.
•Headache.
•Fever.
•Muscle spasms near the infected area.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious infection caused by the micro-
organism Clostridium tetani.
Gangrene
Like tetanus, gangrene is caused by bacteria that
thrive in the absence of oxygen
Difference between Dressing and Bandage
Dressing is the cloth that is used for direct pressure and absorbs the blood
Bandage is use to wrap around the patients would part and keep the dressing in place
Stitches and Structures
Stitches or sutures are needed when a wound
might not otherwise heal cleanly.
Potential stitches events
• A hemorrhaging wound
• A wound with jagged edges
• A wound more than 2.5 cm (1 in.) long
• A wound on the face or head
Tourniquets
A tourniquet is a tight band placed around an
extremity to constrict blood vessels and stop
blood flow.
External bleeding
Most open wounds will have some bleeding, but
the body’s clotting response will usually stop minor
bleeding within 10 minutes, especially if pressure is
applied.
To control external bleeding? Steps?
1.Place the patient in a seated or recumbent
position.
- Place direct pressure on the wound with a
gloved hand.
3.Apply a sterile dressing. Place your gloved
hand over the dressing and apply firm pressure
(Figure 9–6, a).
4.Apply a bandage over the dressing to maintain
direct pressure (Figure 9–6, b) and hold the
dressing in place. If blood soaks through,
add additional dressings and bandages. Do
not remove any blood-soaked dressings or
bandages.
- If bleeding continues, and the wound is on
a limb, apply a tourniquet above the injury
(Figure 9–6, c). While painful, this is necessary
to save the patient’s life.
Epistaxis
Means nose bleed
Care for epistaxis
you can control the bleeding by
having the patient sit with the head slightly
forward while pinching the nostrils together
. Applying an ice pack or cold compress
to the bridge of the nose can also help slow blood
flow and assist in the clotting process.
Internal bleeding
Internal bleeding is the escape of blood from
arteries, veins, or capillaries into spaces inside the
body.
Care for internal bleeding
For minor internal bleeding, such as a contusion (bruise) onan arm, apply ice or a chemical cold pack to the injured area to help reduce pain and swelling.
Lacerations
A laceration is a cut, usually caused by a sharp
object
Four main types of open wounds
- Abrasions
- Lacerations
- Avulsions
- Punctures
Ballistic injuries
Injuries caused by firearms are considered
puncture (or penetrating) wounds, and the care is
generally the same as for any other open wound
Impaled objects
If the object that caused an injury is still in the
wound, it is referred to as an impaled object.
Removing slivers
1.Determine the angle at which the sliver
entered the skin (Figure 9–14, a).
2.Grasp the sliver with disinfected forceps
(tweezers) and draw it out at the same angle
3. Treat the wound as a puncture or laceration.
3 types of slivers
1 wood
2 metal
3 glass
Abscesses
An abscess is a significant localized collection of
pus within tissues, usually in hair-bearing areas
Subungual hematoma
A subungual hematoma is a collection of blood
or fluid between the nail bed and the fingernail
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a general term for an inflammation
of the skin
Myocardial contusion
contusion (also referred to as cardiac
contusion) is a bruising of the heart’s muscle
tissue
