Skin Integrity and Wound Care Flashcards
Dermal-epidermal junction
Separates dermis and epidermis
Epidermis
Top layer of skin
Dermis
Inner layer of skin
Collagen
Common Skin Problems
Xerosis (abnormal drying)
Pruritus (itching)
Sunburn
Urticaria (hives)
A Pressure ulcer classifies as
Pressure sore, decubitus ulcer, or bed sore
Pathogenesis: 3 Pressure Related Factors contribute to pressure ulcer development
- Pressure intensity: Tissue ischemia, Blanching
- Pressure duration
- Tissue tolerance
Tissue ischemia:
the pressure applied over a capillary exceeds the normal capillary pressure range (15-32 mmHg)
Blanching:
occurs when the normal red tones of the light skinned patient are absent
Pressure ulcer definition:
Compression of skin and underlying soft tissue between bony prominence and external surface for extended period
What Mechanical forces create ulcers? (3)
Pressure
Friction
Shear
Risk factors for pressure ulcer development?
Impaired sensory perception Alterations in level of consciousness Impaired mobility Shear Friction Moisture
Shear:
sliding movement of skin and subcutaneous tissue while the underlying muscle and bone are stationary
Stages of Pressure Ulcers:
- Nonblancable Redness of intact skin
- Partial thickness Skin Loss or Blister
- Full-thickness skin loss (Fat Visible)
- Full thickness tissue loss (Muscle/Bone Visible)
Unstageable: Full thickness skin or tissue loss-depth unknown (either 3 or 4)
Suspected deep-tissue injury - depth unknown: boggy, mushy, warmer, or cooler adjacent tissue
Stage 1 description:
shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising
-Difficult to detect with persons with dark skin = risk
Stage 2 description:
Skin not intact, shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising. May appear as abrasion, blister, or shallow crater. Should not be used to describe skin tears, tape burns, incontinence-associated dermatitis, maceration, or excoriation
Stage 3 description:
Varies by anatomical location - Can be shallow, subcutaneous tissue may be damaged or necrotic
Bone, tendon, muscle not exposed
May have tunneling and undermining
Stage 4 description:
Varies by anatomical location - some areas can be shallow, exposed bone/muscle is visible or directly palpable - risks include getting osteomyelitis or osteitis
Ways of Pressure Ulcer Prevention:
- Identify high-risk patients early!: Risk scale, Nutrition assessment
- Implement aggressive intervention of prevention with pressure relief devices
- Pressure mapping
Pressure-Relieving Techniques:
Capillary closing pressure
Pressure-relief products/devices: support therapeutic beds
Positioning: reduce shearing force to skin
Avoid pressure points by positioning the patient at a ….
30 degree angle
Turn every 1-2 hours
Top 3 interventions for pressure ulcers:
- skin care and management of incontinence
- Supporting devices and positioning
- Education
Need to perform skin assessment how many times?
once a day basis
Wounds consists of ..
Classification
Wound healing
Repair
Repairing of wounds has 2 categories:
-Partial-thickness wound repair
-Full-thickness wound repair:
Hemostasis (fibrin)
Inflammatory phase
Proliferative phase (epithelialization)
Remodeling
Partial-Thickness Wounds:
- Damage to epidermis, upper layers of dermis
- Heal by re-epithelialization within 5 to 7 days
- Skin injury immediately followed by local inflammation
Full-Thickness Wounds:
- Damage extends into lower layers of dermis, underlying subcutaneous tissue
- Must be filled with granulation tissue to heal
- Contraction develops in healing process
Phases of wound healing:
- Inflammatory (lag)
- Proliferative (connective tissue repair)
- Maturation (remodeling)
Process of Wound Healing (3):
- First intention – Edges brought together with skin lined up in approximated position
- Second intention –Granulation and contraction; deeper tissue injury or wound
- Third intention –Delayed closure; high risk for infection with resulting scar