Surgical Wounds Flashcards
Describe a clean/ contaminated wound
Surgical wounds of the genitourinary, respiratory or alimentary/oropharengeal cavity. Contaminated by resident flora. No reaction by host
Describe a clean wound
Wounds made under aseptic surgical aseptic technique. No clinical signs of infection. Don’t enter genito urinary, respiratory or alimentary tracts/ oropharengeal cavity
Describe a contaminated wound
Contaminated by bacteria. Honest reaction. No pus.
Describe an infected wound
Clinical signs of infection (pain, heat,swelling,redness,^exudate). Increased leukocyte and macrophages. Chronic wound infection signs.
List the signs of a chronic wound infection
New or increased pain. Delayed healing. Friable, bright red hyper granulation. Pocketing/irregular deposition of granulation tissue, bridging tissue. Malodour and ^exudate.
List the surgical methods for primary wound healing
Sutures, staples, surgical tape, tissue glue (histacryl)
List the surgical wound healing methods for delayed primary intention
Suture after 3-10 days
What are the two types of natural sutures?
Absorbable and non-absorbable
Describe the two types of Natural absorbable sutures
Natural - purified collagen.
Catgut (plain or chromic)
- plain: rapidly absorbed, tensile strength, lasts 7-10 days.
-chromic: treated with chromium salt solution to resist enzymes, last 10-14 days.
Describe Non-absorbable sutures
Silk
Linen
Stainless steel
What are the four types of synthetic sutures?
Absorbable e.g. polyglycolic acid, polyglactin
Non absorbable e.g. Polyamide,polyester,polypropylene
Vicryl e.g. Tensile strength 65@14days ,40%@21 days10%35days
Poly dioxane e.g. Tensile strength 70%@14days,50%@28days. Absorption complete by 180 days.
Name the four types of suture techniques
Simple square, interrupted sutures, mattress sutures, continuous sub cuticular sutures and tension sutures
Describe simple square interrupted sutures
Inserted 1cm apart and 1cm across
Describe mattress sutures
Less pressure/tension on wound opening.
Vertical: in,under wound, out other side, then in,back across, out, knotted.
Horizontal: same as above, only sit parallel with incision line
Describe continuous subcuticular suture
One piece of suture. Start by going into SC inside wound, come up , leave a stitch, go into skin, across other side, repeat
Describe tension sutures
Inserted into deep tissue, provide additional support, nylon sutures covered with polyurethane cove to prevent cutting into skin.
Describe wound closure strips
Adhesive strips. Eg. Steri strips or leukocyte-strips
What are the principles for wound healing by primary intention?
Protect the wound from physical or pathogenic assault Absorb exudate Maintain wound temperature Maintain body temperature Oxygenation Avoid stress-pain relief Observe suture line for complications
What can you use to dress a suture line?
Keep dressing on for 24-48 hours (unless there is a drain ) Dry low-adherent dressings Island dressings Semi permeable film Hydro colloid Foam
What are the indications for a drainage tube
Abscesses cavity-prevent premature closure
Insecure intra abdo wound- compromised healing, malnourished
Anticipated exudate
Risk of peritonitis -bowel, gastric, biliary
Extensive dissection- large collections
Traumatic injury- to drain contaminants
List the 3 types of drains
Capillary wicking:Penrose, corrugated,ported
Attached negative pressure suction devices: redivac, Jackson Pratt, sump,axiom
Percutaneous: biliary, nephrostomy
What are the indications for percutaneous tubes?
Gastrostomy - feeding or decompression Jejunostomy- feeding Nephrostomy - draining urine Supra public catheter -draining urine Biliary-draining bile
Describe peri tubular skin care
Keep skin clean and dry
Peri tubular leakage -indicates width of tube is too small for fistula track
Hypergranulation around tubes indicates friction - secure tube
What is a Biliary T-Tube?
Inserted into the biliary track to drain bile following a cholecystectomy.
What are the principles of drain management?
Client/carer support and education Secure drain Maintain patency Maintain skin integrity Contain exudate Observe type and amount of exudate Prevent infection Observe for complications -infection,discomfort, dislodgement,blocksge. If on -ve pressure -loss of suction, loss of skin integrity
List the types of surgical wound complications
Haemorrhage- primary or secondary Haematoma Seroma Oedema Infection Occlusion blood supply- necrosis Dehiscence / evisceration Adhesions
What is the aetiology of dehiscence?
Heamatoma, seroma,infection, trauma
What is a sinus?
A track or opening into tissues
What is a fistula?
An abnormal track connecting one viscus to another viscus or to the skin surface
What is the aetiology of a fistula?
Leaking surgical anastomoses ,
Spontaneous rupture due to obstruction, disease, trauma or radiotherapy.
Mesenteric ischaemia
Sepsis - diverticulitis & appendicitis
What are the two types of fistula classifications?
Internal fistula - vesicovaginal,enterocolonic,rectovagal
External fistula - enterocutaneous, buccal,vesciocutaneous
What are the principles for fistula management?
Patient comfort and support, fluid and electrolyte replacement, nutritional assessment and supplementation
, prevention and management of infection, maintenance of skin integrity, containment of effluent and odour, cost-effective care.
Describe medication management for fistula’s?
Anti-motility agents e.g. Loperamide, lomotil, opioids.
Cholestyramine e.g. If fistula’s in the duodenum or proximal jejunum and if excess bile salts in the intestine.
Somastatin analogues- enhances fluid and electrolyte absorption.
1t and 2t sugar solution
What is an evisceration of the abdomen?
Spontaneous rupture of the abdominal suture line and intestines protrude through the opening
What are the types of aberrant healing?
Hypergranulation, contracture, hypertrophic scar, keloid
Describe Hypergranulation
Raised granulation tissue above the level of the surrounding skin commonly occurs as a result of;
Friction
Increased bacterial burden in the wound
Infection
Describe contracture
Abnormal scar formation that can inhibit movement or function due to excessive myofibroblast activity.
Describe a Hypertrophic scar
Excessive scar that remains within the perimeter of the original wound
Describe a Keloid scar
Excessive scar that extends outside the perimeter of the original wound
What are the 6 F’s of when not to pack a wound?
Fistula, fascial plane separation,facilitate exudate drainage,foreign bodies,formed track (lined with epithelium) , fear of the unknown
What are the risk factors for burns?
Young children, adult males, elderly.
Indigenous
Alcohol,cigarettes, drug abuse,low socioeconomic status
, residential factors
Describe a thermal burn
Hot surfaces, flames,scalds (e.g hot water) flash injuries from explosions
What is a chemical burn?
Acidic and alkaline substances, household and industrial cleaning agents
What is an electrical burn?
Low or high voltage, lightening
What is a radiation burn?
Over exposure to UV, electromagnetic, x-ray, particulate (alpha/beta or neurons)
What is a cold injury?
Frost bite, tissue hypothermia/freezing, impaired vascular function, tissue necrosis.
What is friction?
Motorbike or treadmill accidents
Name the five burn aetiologies
Thermal, chemical, electrical, radiation and friction
Describe the pathophysiology of a burn
Increased capillary permeability and oedema straight after the burn.
Caused by inflammatory mediators- histamine,prostaglandins, leukotrienes and kinins.
Increased capillary permeability = loss of small protein molecules, odema and fluid loss proportional to TBSA%
TBSA +30% leads to hypovolaemic shock, cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, urinary, metabolic and autoimmune compromise.
Local effects: extent and depth of burn determined by temperature, duration of contact and thickness of skin.
Systemic effects: fluid loss from site, increased metabolism, nitrogen loss, hypothermia, protein loss, gluconeogenesis, impaired insulin production and glucose metabolism = hyperglycaemia
Name Jackson’s zone of burn injury
Zone of ;
Coagulation
Stasis
Hyperaemia
Describe the zone of coagulation
Occurs at the point of maximal damage. Central, inner zone, blood vessel thrombosis, irreversible necrosis
Describe the zone of stasis
Medial zone. Decreased tissue perfusion, potentially salvageable. Tissue can become necrotic due it impaired circulation, release of inflammatory mediators and poor first aid. Main aim = increase tissue perfusion and prevent irreversible damage