Skin Problems In Palliative Care Flashcards
List the 4 stages of pressure injuries
- Non-blanchable erythema
- Partial thickness skin loss with exposed dermis
- Full thickness skin loss
- Full thickness skin and tissue loss
Examples of skin damage and wounds in palliative care (7)
- Pressure ulcers
- Moisture lesions
- Skin tears
- Dry, irritated skin
- Malignant fungating wounds
- Fistulae
- Blistering skin conditions
List 5 Assessment Scales for Wound Care
- Toronto Symptoms Assessment System for Wounds
- Schulz Malignant Fungating Wound Assessment Tool
- Wound Symptoms Self-Assessment Chart
- TELER System
- Hopkins Wound Assessment Tool
5 Core Symptoms of Wounds
- Odour
- Pain
- Exudate
- Itching
- Bleeding
3 Keys to good skin care
- Cleansing (use cleanser that doesn’t strip oils, avoid soap and water).
- Moisturizing and Hydrating (emollients, lotions)
- Protecting (barrier products like creams)
3 Ways to Prevent Pressure Wounds
- Identify those at risk
- Repositioning on pressure redistribution devices
- Test cap refill to determine skin with pressure damage
List 4 general management strategies for pressure ulcers and moisture lesions
- Pressure relief and management of friction and shear forces.
- Good skin care
- Wound management
- Continence and fistula management
4 ways to manage moisture wounds
- Disposable pads and close fitting underwear
- Urinary catheters
- Anal or stoma bags
- Fecal management systems
3 treatment strategies for fungating malignant wounds
- Control tumour growth with anti cancer tx
- Control bleeding
- Promote wound closure if possible
What lab values distinguishes NMS from SS (5)
- Elevated CK
- Elevated AST
- Elevated LDH
- Elevated WBC
- Low serum iron level
What three considerations make up the framework of wound management?
- Management or palliation of underlying cause of the wound.
- Management of wound-related symptoms.
- Management of the wound and peri-wound skin.
How do fungating malignant wounds cause skin damage? (5)
- Tumour growth
- Loss of local blood supply with subsequent loss of tissue viability
- Local infections
- Colonization with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria causing exudate and potential for further tissue damage.
List 4 key components of local wound management.
TIME
- Tissue management
- Infection and inflammation management
- Moisture balance
- Edge of wound (in terms of how this advanced inwards to cover the broken area)
List 6 methods for wound debridement of necrotic tissue and one example of each.
- Autolytic (hydrogel dressing)
- Biological (larval therapy)
- Mechanical (ultrasound and water irrigation devices)
- Surgical and sharp debridement (scalpel, scissors, forceps)
- Chemical (active dressings, medical grade honey)
- Enzymatic (collagenase agents)
Under what circumatances would you promote scab formation in wound care?
- Short life expectancy
- Multiple wounds over body
- H&N wounds