Week1 readings

Question 1

3 classifications of Wound Dressings

Answer 1

Passive:
covers/protects, maintains moist environment
(e.g: DuoDerm, Gauze, melolin, tullegras)

Interactive:
Absorbs exudate, moist healing enviro, surrounding skin dry. Activates cellular proliferation, stimulates growth factors.
(eg. hydrocolloids, alginates, hydrogels)

Bio Active:
improve healing process, decrease healing time. create moist wound surface.
(eg. skin grafts, skin substitutes)

Question 2

5 Rules of wound care

Answer 2

1.) Categorisation:
Become familiar with dressing types/indications/side effects.

2.) Selection:
Most appropriate for wound/cost effective/easy to use for patient OR care giver

3.) Change:
Based on patient/wound/dressing assessment.

4.) Evolution: 
wound evolves (heals/worse) > leads to dressing change

5.) Practice:
develop skills/experience/knowledge base

Question 3

Define Acronym:

T I M E

Answer 3

Tissue:
Viable/non viable, assess arterial supply

Inflammation:
is normal, Remove Biofilm (layer of micro organisms, adhere to structures surrounding wound.) Infection- exudate/pus/Grey Rubra granulation.

Moisture:
Balance & Maintain to prevent maceration of surrounding tissue.

Epithelial:
advancement of wound edges. Healthy- silvery/white OR Light pink.

Question 4

Define:

• Debridement
• Xerosis
• Maceration
• Hydrophilic
• Hydrophobic

Answer 4

Debridement:
removal of contaminated, narcotic/dead OR foreign tissue.

Xerosis:
excessive dry skin caused by thickening of membranes

Maceration:
softening of skin caused by prolonged exposure to excessing moisture

Hydrophilic:
material that absorbs moisture
Hydrophobic: material that repels moisture

Question 5

Types of Debridement

Answer 5

Autolytic:
the use of own natural digestive enzymes to break down narcotic tissue. Occlusive dressing to keep moist. (disadvantage: longer process, contraindicated in infected wounds),

Mechanical:
Uses force, mechanical separation to remove debris. (eg. wound irrigation, wet to dry dressing)

Chemical:
enzymatic agents are applied to skin. enhances natural autolytic process. dressing depends of moisture content of wound.

Surgical:
most effective, quick, sterile, less pain, minimal damage to surrounding tissue. extensive amount of narcotic tissue, depth of wound cannot be judged, removal of widespread infected material.

Question 6

Wound Documentation includes?

Answer 6

History/Cause/Location/Pain/smell
Visual observation: Sloughy, narcotic, granulation, exudate
Healing process
drawing/diagram/photograph

Question 7

3 dressing Categories:

Answer 7

Occlusive:
sterile/non-sterile gauze Or wrap. used to protect wound, cover topical medication . requires secondary dressing. (eg. plastic film- keeps air tight)

Wet:
wet compresses applied to skin. acute, weeping, inflamed wounds. (rarely used)

Moisture Retentive:
remove exudate, keep wound moist. Reduces pain, infections and scaring, promote autolytic debridement.

Question 8

Examples of Moisture Retentive Dressings

Answer 8

Hydrogel:
rehydrates wound tissue

Hydrocolloid:
Moisture is absorbed into dressing producing foul odour

Calcium Alginate:
Bio absorbable , turning alginate fibres turn into hydrogel. highly irritated, macerated tissue.

Foam:
hydrophilic surface & hydrophobic back

Question 9

Flucloxacillin IV

Indication:
Contraindications:
Adverse reactions:
Usual adult dose:

Answer 9

Indication:
Staphylococcal (staph) infection
Other Gram positive coccal infection

Contra:
hypersensitivity to penicillin

AR:
Nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, constipation, abdominal pain, heart burn, anorexia, bronchospasm
Hepatitis & cholestatic jaundice (Bile from the liver)

Dose:
IV 250mg-1g 6hrly