Topic 4 Flashcards
pressure ulcers
a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence. It results from pressure in combination with shear and/or friction.
what are some other names for a pressure ulcer?
Pressure sore, decubitus ulcer, or bed sore
what are the three major elements that cause a pressure ulcer?
pressure intensity (tissue ischemia & blanching)
pressure duration
tissue tolerance
tissue ischemia
If pressure applied over a capillary exceeds normal capillary pressure and the vessel is occluded for a prolonged time
blanching
Blanching occurs when the normal red tones of skin are absent.
pressure duration
Pressure duration assesses low and extended pressures. Low pressures over a prolonged time can cause tissue damage. Extended pressure occludes blood flow and nutrients and contributes to cell death.
tissue tolerance
The ability of tissue to endure pressure depends on the integrity of the tissue and supporting structures.
what assessments are included for a pressure ulcer?
-wound location
-depth of tissue involvement (staging)
-type and approximate percentage of tissue in wound bed
-wound dimensions (if present include sinus tracts and tunneling)
-exudate description (if present odor)
-condition of surrounding skin.
what are the risk factors for a pressure ulcer
-Impaired sensory perception
-Impaired mobility
-Alteration in LOC
-Shear
-Friction
-Moisture
stage I
o Intact skin with nonblanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence
-Discoloration of the skin, warmth, edema, hardness, or pain may also be present.
stage II
o Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis, dermis, or both
-Presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough.
-May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled or serosanguineous filled blister.
-Presents as a shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising. Bruising indicates deep tissue injury.
stage III
o Full-thickness tissue loss with visible fat; but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed.
stage IV
o Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, muscle, or tendon
partial thickness wound
Involves the epidermis and the dermis but does not extend through the dermis to the subcutaneous layer
full thickness wound
the dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous tissue are penetrated; muscle and bone may be involved
Primary intention wound healing
intentional wounds with minimal tissue loss and well approximated edges. low risk for infection (ex: surgical incision)
secondary intention wound healing
a wound involving loss of tissue, is allowed to remain open and heal by granulation, epithelialization, and contraction - used for dirty wounds, o/w abscess can form, greater risk for infection
Tertiary intention wound healing
o Wound that is left open for several days, then wound edges are approximated
granulation tissue
the tissue that normally forms during the healing of a wound
slough
stringy substance attached to wound bed
eschar
black or brown necrotic tissue
exudate
fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound
black wound
o black or brown necrotic tissue is eschar, which also needs to be removed before healing can proceed.
yellow wound
soft yellow or white tissue is characteristic of slough (stringy substance attached to the wound bed), and it must be removed by a skilled clinician before the wound is able to heal
red wound
o Recall that granulation tissue is red, moist tissue composed of new blood vessels, the presence of which indicates; progression toward healing
wound
a disruption of the integrity and function of tissues in the body.
a partial thickness wound heals by
regeneration
a full thickness wound heals by
forming new tissue (scar)
what are the three components of the partial thickness healing process?
inflammatory response
epithelial proliferation and migration
establishment of the epidermal layers
inflammatory response (partial thickness)
nonspecific defense against infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain (generally limited to the next 24 hours)
epithelial proliferation and migration (partial thickness)
Epithelial cells begin to migrate across wound bed soon after wound occurs. Wound left open to air: resurface 6-7 days. Moist wound: resurface 4 days.
reestablishment of the epidermal layers (partial thickness)
The cells slowly reestablish normal thickness and appear as dry, pink tissue.
what are the four phases of the full thickness healing process?
hemostasis
inflammatory
proliferative
maturation
hemostasis (full thickness)
injured blood vessels constrict, and platelets gather to stop bleeding. Clots form a fibrin matrix that later provides a framework for cellular repair
inflammatory (full thickness)
damaged tissue and mast cells secrete histamine, resulting in vasodilation of surrounding capillaries and movement/migration of serum and WBCs into the damage tissues
proliferative phase (full thickness)
o Begins with the appearance of new blood vessels as reconstruction progresses and lasts from 3 to 24 days. The main activities during this phase are the filling of the wound with granulation tissue, contraction of the wound, and the resurfacing of the wound by epithelialization
maturation phase (full thickness)
o The final stage of healing, sometimes takes place for more than a year, depending on the depth and extent of the wound. The collagen scar continues to reorganize and gain strength for several months. However, a healed wound usually does not have the tensile strength of the tissue it replaces.
hemorrhage
excessive/profuse bleeding from a wound site, is normal during and immediately after initial trauma. (Hemorrhage occurs externally or internally.)