Skin Integrity and Wound Healing Chapter 34 COPY Flashcards
Identify the major functions of the skin.
Answer:
The skin has five major functions:
● Protection of the internal organs
● Unique identification of an individual
● Thermoregulation
● Metabolism of nutrients and metabolic waste products
● Sensation
What is the function of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin?
Answer:
The stratum corneum serves as a barrier, which has three functions:
● Restrict water loss
● Prevent entry of fluids into the body
● Protect the body against the entry of pathogens and chemicals
What is the function of the subcutaneous layer?
Answer:
The subcutaneous layer, which is primarily connective and adipose tissues, has three functions:
● Insulation
● Protection
● Reserve of calories in the event of severe malnutrition
What effect does aging have on skin?
Answer:
As adults age, aging has the following effects on the skin:
● The activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands diminishes, resulting in drier skin.
● The subcutaneous tissue layer thins, giving the individual a sharp angular appearance. Excess caloric intake and weight gain can offset this change of appearance.
● The strong bond between the epidermal and dermal layers decreases as the dermal layer looses elasticity.
● These changes make the skin prone to breakdown and slow the healing of a wound.
What effect does immobility have on skin?
Answer:
Patients with impaired mobility often cannot reposition themselves, leading to pressure over bony prominences, which can lead to skin breakdown.
Identify the factors that affect skin integrity.
Answer:
Eleven factors affect skin integrity:
- Age
- Mobility status
- Nutrition
- Hydration
- Sensory and cognitive status
- Circulation
- Medications
- Exposure to moisture
- Exposure to harmful microorganisms
- Fever
- Lifestyle
What nutritional components are essential to maintain skin?
Adequate intakes of five nutritional components are essential to maintain skin:
- Protein
- Calories
- Fluid
- Vitamin C
- Minerals
Explain the difference between an acute and a chronic wound.
Acute and chronic wounds have different durations and causes.
● Acute wounds are expected to be of short duration. Acute wounds may be intentional (surgical incisions) or unintentional (trauma).
● Wounds are classified as chronic when they exceed the anticipated length of recovery. Chronic wounds include pressure, arterial, venous, and diabetic ulcers. These wounds are frequently colonized with bacteria, and healing is very slow because of the underlying disease process. A chronic wound may linger for months or years.
Describe the wound-categorization system based on the level of contamination.
Clean
Clean-contaminated
Contaminated
Infected
Clean wounds are
uninfected wounds with minimal inflammation. They may be open or closed and do not involve the gastrointestinal, respiratory, or genitourinary tracts (these systems frequently harbor bacteria). There is very little risk of infection for these wounds.
Clean-contaminated wounds are
surgical incisions that enter the gastrointestinal, respiratory, or genitourinary tracts. There is an increased risk of infection for these wounds, but there is no obvious infection.
Contaminated wounds include
open, traumatic wounds or surgical incisions in which a major break in asepsis occurred. The risk of infection is high for these wounds.
Infected wounds are wounds
with evidence of infection, such as purulent drainage or necrotic tissue. Wounds are considered infected when bacteria counts in the wound tissues are above 100,000 organisms per gram of tissue or in which there is the presence of beta-hemolytic streptococci in any number.
How does wound depth affect healing?
Answer:
Wound depth is a major determinant of healing time. As wound depth increases, healing time also increases.
A wound that heals from inner layer to the surface
Answer:
Secondary intention
A wound with approximated edges
Answer:
Primary and tertiary intention
A wound that heals by approximating two surfaces of granulation tissue
Answer:
Tertiary intention
A wound that is sutured and has minimal or no tissue loss
Answer:
Primary intention
Name at least four types of wound closures.
Adhesive strips (Steri-strips) Sutures Surgical staples Surgical glue Negative-pressure Compression stockings
Adhesive strips (Steri-strips)
are used to close superficial low-tension wounds, such as skin tears or lacerations, or to close the skin on a wound that has been closed subcutaneously. They may also be used to give additional support to a wound after sutures or staples have been removed. The strips extend at least 2 to 3 cm on either side of the wound to ensure closure and are placed 2 to 3 cm apart along the wound.
Sutures
are the most traditional wound-closure technique. They are available in a variety of sizes and materials. Absorbent sutures are used deep in the tissues. They may be used to close an organ or anastomose (connect) tissue. Absorbent sutures are made of material that will gradually dissolve; there is no need to remove these sutures. Nonabsorbent sutures are placed in superficial tissues. These sutures require removal. Nurses often remove sutures.
Surgical staples
are lightweight titanium and may be used as an alternative wound-closure technique. Staples are easy to use and provide a rapid way to close an incision. Removal requires a staple remover.
Surgical glue
is a relatively new method for wound closure. It is safe for use in clean low-tension wounds. It is an ideal wound-closure method for skin tears.
Negative-pressure wound closure
uses a piece of open-cell foam in the wound that is attached with a tube to a negative-pressure pump to remove wound drainage, provide subatmospheric pressure for improved wound healing, create a clean and moist environment, and form a barrier to bacterial infection. The negative-pressure device is computerized and can be programmed for continuous or intermittent negative pressure.
Compression stockings
are used with venous stasis ulcers on the lower extremities. They apply continuous pressure to the veins, which facilitates venous return and allows the ulcers to heal.
Identify five types of wound complication.
Answer:
Five types of complications can occur with wounds:
● Hemorrhage
● Infection
● Dehiscence
● Evisceration
● Fistula
Describe three signs of internal hemorrhage.
Answer:
Answers may include any three of the following signs of internal bleeding:
● Swelling of the affected body part.
● Pain.
● Changes in vital signs.
● A hematoma (a red-blue collection of blood under the skin). A hematoma often forms as a result of internal bleeding. The amount of blood in a hematoma varies. A large hematoma causes pressure on surrounding tissues. When the hematoma is located near a major artery or vein, it may impede blood flow.
Differentiate between dehiscence and evisceration.
Answer:
Dehiscence and evisceration have the following differences:
● Dehiscence is the separation of one or more layers of the wound.
● Evisceration is the total separation of the layers of a wound with internal viscera protruding through the incision.
What should be included in a wound assessment?
Answer:
A wound assessment should include the following parameters:
The type of wound
Location of the wound
The color of the wound and surrounding skin
The condition of the wound bed and surrounding skin
The color, consistency, amount, and odor of exudate or drainage
Pain or discomfort related to the wound or wound care
What is the preferred method of wound culture that may be performed by a registered nurse?
Answer:
Needle aspiration of a wound is the preferred method for a culture obtained by nursing staff. Nurses can culture wounds by swabbing and aspirating with a needle, but not biopsy, unless certified as advanced practice.
Identify three types of laboratory data that may be associated with a delay in wound healing.
Answer:
Answers may include any three of the following lab data that may be associated with a delay in wound healing:
A low WBC count
A low serum protein, albumin, or pre-albumin level
Prolonged coagulation times
Needle aspiration result indicative of infection