Minor Surgical Conditions Flashcards
what is an abscess?
localised collection of purulent material lined with granulation and fibrous tissue
where can abscess occur?
in any tissue
what normally happens as an abscess progresses?
points and bursts leading to drainage
what are the main complications arising from abscesses?
toxaemia
pyaemia
sinus
skin necrosis
what do the pyogenic organisms found within abscesses do?
cause cell death and inflammation
what are the key signs of abscess?
pyrexia anorexia vomiting pain swelling discharge (skin abscess)
how should an abscess be treated?
establish drainage
maintain drainage
treatment with antibiotics
how should drainage be established from an abscess?
lance with sterile scalpel blade and flush with saline or weak disinfectant solutions
what is the issue with using weak disinfectant solutions to flush abscesses?
can lead to minor skin irritation
what may be required for deep / internal abscesses?
surgery for resection
how should drainage of an abscess be maintained?
keep open with regular bathing and flushing
surgical drains may be needed for deeper abscesses
when should treatment with antibiotics begin for an abscess?
once drainage is achieved
what other medication should be considered in the abscess patient?
analgesia
what does cellulitis arise from?
acut inflammation?
what is cellulitis?
non-localised distribution of pus through tissue
what are the signs of cellulitis?
pain
area sensitive to touch
pyrexia
generalised swelling
how is cellulitis treated?
systemic antibiotics
anti-inflammatory medication
analgesia
what is a sinus (medical condition)?
infected blind ending tract leading from a focus of infection (deeper tissues) tot he boy surface or mucous membrane
what is a sinus lined with?
granulation tissue
what are the signs of sinus?
pyrexia
pain
sensitive to touch
disease specific signs (depends on cause)
what are 2 examples of sinus formation?
foreign body tract (e.g. grass seeds0
anal furunculosis
what is anal furunculosis?
deep pyoderma leading to many sinus tracts
what is a fistula?
abnormal tract between two epithelial surfaces or connecting an epithelial surface to the skin
what can fistula arise as a result of?
injury or trauma
congenital - lined with epithelium
what is an oro-nasal fistula?
tract between nasal cavity and oral cavity
what are the signs of fistula?
chronic infection
visual abnormality
physical abnormality
what is required to treat all fistulas?
surgical repair
what are ulcers?
the loss of the epithelial surface of a tissue (skin / mucous membrane)
shallow lesions caused by trauma and aggravated by poor blood supply and / or infection
how long to ulcers take to heal?
slow
what are the common areas of the body affected by ulcers?
skin
GI tract
cornea
what are the signs of ulcers?
pain
swelling
visual appearence
secondary issues (e.g. infection
how can ulcers be treated?
remove cause
keep surface clean
dress wound if possible
surgical treatment