Intro to Wound Care Flashcards
What are the phases of wound healing?
Hemostasis –> inflammation –> proliferation –> remodeling
Characteristics of hemostasis
Platelets are primary players; involves activation of the clotting cascade and PLT aggregation (minutes)
Characteristics of inflammation
Involves increased presence of WBCs & cytokines to invade tissue space, clear debris - usually lasts 1-3 days
Characteristics of proliferation
Involves process of laying down granulation tissue and epithelization; fibroblasts are the key player (usually around 10 days)
Characteristics of remodeling
Involves increasing tissue tensile strength and formation of collagen (100 days or more)
Factors that limit healing of chronic wounds
Infection, malnutrition, edema, ischemia, pressure necrosis
What percentage of surgical wounds subsequently develop complications?
~5%
ISTAP type 1
skin tear without tissue loss
ISTAP type 2
skin tear with partial tissue loss
ISTAP type 3
skin tear with deep tissue loss
What is the MC reason why DFUs do not heal?
Inadequate offloading techniques
What percentage of DFUs Wagner Score 3+ do not heal?
~70%
Marjolin’s ulcer
malignancy that occurs @ the site of a long-standing wound
Signs/symptoms of wound infection
SIRS criteria, purulence, pain, necrosis, odor, fever, lymphangitis, PW rubor
How many cm beyond PW is considered clinically-significant cellulitis?
> 2cm
At what ABI level can full compression techniques be used?
ABI >0.70
General protein intake guidelines for wound healing
Protein: 1.75-2g/kg/day
General protein intake guidelines for patients with ESRD
0.75 g/kg/day
Absolute contraindications to NPWT
active untreated osteomyelitis/infection, malignancy, unexplored fistulas, necrotic tissue
When are skin substitutes indicated?
Wounds that have not healed by >50% in a 30 day span despite use of conventional therapy
BRADEN score characteristics
mobility, sensory perception, moisture, activity, nutrition, friction & shear
Uses of hyperbaric O2
ANEMIA, burns, CO poisoning, crush injuries, gas gangrene, hearing loss, osteomyelitis, Wagner 3+ DFUs, radiation skin necrosis, skin grafts at risk of necrosis
Hyperbaric O2 MOA
delivers 3x the normal [O2] in blood plasma to affected areas, resulting in higher [O2] at end-organ areas
Hyperbaric O2 ADRs
ocular toxicity, transient myopia, cataract growth, barotrauma, CNS toxicity, oxygen toxicity, flash pulmonary edema, confinement anxiety, paresthesias
Absolute CI to hyperbaric O2
untreated pneumothorax
Relative CIs to hyperbaric O2
patients previously treated with bleomycin & doxorubicin & cisplatin; disulfiram, amiodarone, sulfamylin, chronic sinusitis, seizure disorders, emphysema with CO2 retention, active malignancies, pregnancy
Characteristics of wound bed in chronic wounds (>4 weeks)
Exudate of chronic wounds contains higher levels of MPP; suggests slower tissue regeneration & delayed wound closure
-prolonged inflammatory phase –> impaired angiogenesis & neovascularization
What phase of wound healing do chronic wounds stay in?
Inflammatory phase
Transcutaneous oximetry (TCOM)
estimates the partial pressure of oxygen on the skin surface using non-invasive electrodes
What can TCOM be used for?
screening tool for PAD
What TCOM is typically referenced as representative of tissue hypoxia sufficient to delay wound healing?
TCOM <40 mmHg
What TCOM value is referenced as suggestive/indicative of critical limb ischemia?
TCOM <30 mmHg
Emergent hyperbaric O2 indications
acute CO poisoning, arterial gas embolism, decompression sickness
Urgent hyperbaric O2 indications
acute PAD, compartment syndrome, crush injuries, Central retinal artery occlusion, gas gangrene, compromised skin grafts/flaps, pyogenic & invasive fungal intracranial abscesses, acute blood loss anemia
Elective hyperbaric O2 indications
DFUs, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, soft tissue radiation skin necrosis, osteonecrosis of the jaw
Indications for air breaks during hyperbaric O2 therapy
prevents cumulative effects of hyperbaric O2 toxicity
PUSH tool
Assesses wounds via 3 characteristics: (1) size, (2) exudate type & amount, (3) tissue characteristics
BWAT tool
Assesses wounds using 15 characteristics
-size, depth, edges, UM, necrosis, exudate, PW skin color, peripheral tissue edema, induration, granulation tissue, epithelization
After how long (when acquired) is a wound considered a hospital or system acquired PI?
24 hours
Approach to informed consent
(1) assess capacity
(2) if unable to consent, reach out to POA for consent
EBP grading - Category 1A
Well-supported & recommended for implementation
EBP grading - Category 1B
Has supporting evidence & is recommended for implementation
EBP grading - Category 1C
Industry standard
EBP grading - Category II
Has supportive clinical studies
EBP grading - Category III
Described in clinical studies
EBP grading - Category IV
Expert opinion
Goals of palliative wound care
Reduce pain, minimize risk of infection, control odor
Is palliative wound debridement allowed?
Yes - in terms of debridement to minimize risk of infection
Functions of the skin
acts as a protective barrier against outside pathogens; prevents moisture loss; reduces UV radiation effect; sensory organ; temperature regulation; vitamin D production
What are the primary cells of the dermis?
fibroblasts
Papillary dermis
superficial layer of the dermis composed of loose connective tissue that is highly vascularized
Functions of the hypodermis
connection, insulation, shock absorption for organs, energy storage
Reticular dermis
deeper layer of the dermis composed of thick connective tissue
Layers of the epidermis (deep to superficial)
stratum basale –> stratum spinosum –> stratum granulosum –> stratum lucidum –> stratum corneum
Primary healing
active healing via an additive mechanism (i.e. sutures or staples)
Secondary healing
healing that occurs via re-epithelization that cannot be closed via primary intention
Tertiary healing
healing via delayed primary closure
What (technically speaking) does an ulcer refer to?
A wound that has been present for >4 weeks; AKA a chronic wound
Causes of hypergranulation
topical skin infection, malnutrition, impaired inflammatory phase/state, microtrauma
Management of hypergranulation
chemical cautery(primary), topical steroids, debridement
1+ edema
2mm sized wheel and takes 10-15 seconds to return to baseline
2+ edema
4mm wheel and takes 10-15 seconds to return to baseline
3+ edema
6mm wheel and takes <1 minute to return to baseline
4+ edema
8mm wheel and takes 2-5 minutes to return to baseline
Signs/symptoms of infection
PW induration, rubor >2cm beyond margins, lymphangitic streaking, localized warmth & tenderness to palpation, purulence, odor, necrosis, hypergranulated tissue
MC sites for pressure injuries
MC site is the sacrum (heels: 2nd MC)
External mechanical forces that result in pressure wounds
pressure, shear & friction
Intrinsic factors that lead or precipitate pressure wounds
age, nutrition, moisturize, body temperature
Stage 1 pressure wound
characterized as non-blanchable tissue usually over a bony prominence
Treatment for S1 pressure wounds
offloading of the affected areas +/- skin prep
Stage 2 pressure wound
involves partial thickness skin loss (dermis)
Stage 3 pressure wound
Involves full thickness wound without exposed soft tissue or bone
Stage 4 pressure wounds
Involves soft tissue skin loss/exposure (exposed muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, capsule)
Unstageable pressure wound
wound base is completed covered by eschar or slough and therefore an appropriate stage cannot be determined
Deep tissue pressure injury
non-blanchable deep red/maroon-colored wound or epidermal separation revealing a dark wound bed due to extensive tissue necrosis; may resolve completely or unveil a S3 or S4 pressure wound
Kennedy terminal ulcer
the presence of a rapid-onset & rapidly-deteriorating wound (MC on the sacrum) due to end organ skin failure as a result of end of life skin changes
Why are lubricants essential in preventing pressure wounds?
lubrication allows for reduction friction & shear –> reduction of pressure wound occurrence
What are the criteria for using silicone sacrum dressings for pressure wound prevention?
BRADEN score <18 and ANY of the following:
-vasopressor use, trach’d or intubated, spinal cord injury, TBI, age >60 YO
Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD)
presence of skin inflammation due to prolonged skin exposure to urine & stool
Does a normal ABI rule out presence of microvascular disease?
No - low sensitivity
Wagner scale 0
intact skin
Wagner Score 1
superficial skin loss (as deep as SQ)