Wound Care Flashcards
phases of healing (3)
- inflammatory phase2. proliferation phase3. maturation phase*all overlapping
inflammatory phase
begins the moment of injury and lasts 2 days to 2 weeks initial vasoconstriction to control blood lossprotein-based fluid leaks out of vessels and swelling begins along with clean-up cellswithin 30 minutes mast cells release histamine to cause vasodialation
proliferation phase
begins once injured area being clean and free of damaged tissue, foreign matter, and bacteria and last several weeksconsists of granulation, angiogenesis, wound contraction, and epithelialization*moist wound bed desired
maturation phase
“remodeling phase”water and amino acids squeezed out of the granulation tissue matrixcollagen fibers produced, forms scar*can last up to 2 years
scar vs skin strength
scar is 80% as strong as skin at full maturity*scar management is important
factors that affect healing (9)
- circulation2. debris in wound bed3. infection4. chemical stress5. temperature of wound bed6. amount of moisture in/around wound bed7. medications and other medical conditions8. nutrition9. age
debridement
the removal of necrotic tissue from a wound so the healthy tissue is exposed in the wound bed
slough
yellow, white stringy tissuemoist composite of fibrin bacteria, dead cells and exudate*dead tissue
eschar
black, hard tissue, occasionally moist in appearance
autolytic debridement
when the body breaks down the necrotic tissue on its owncan encourage with dressingscomfortable and effective, but slower*watch for macerated skin
enzymatic debridement
use of topical enzymes to break down slough and escharcheck state practice actcollagenase ointment - needs Rx*may cause discomfort
sharp debridement
use of sharp instrument (scissors/scalpel) to selectively remove necrotic tissuecheck state practice actneed to be skilled*fastest and most effective method
mechanical debridement
remove of dead tissue using methods like whirlpool agitation, high pressure fluid irrigation, or wet-to-dry dressings**NOT RECOMMENDED
hypergranulation tissue
looks like shiny, deep-red balls of tissue that grow taller than the wound marginsoft, bleeds easytreat with nitrate sticks (do with dressing changes/turns tissue gray)
wound cleansing frequency
wound should be cleansed every time the dressing is changed
best wound cleansing solutions
normal salinesterile waterdrinkable tap water
wound cleansing solutions to avoid
hydrogen peroxide, Dakin’s solution, povidone iodine/Betadine, soap, bleach*never use anything you would not be willing to put in your eye
hydrogen peroxide and wounds
should only be used in home setting to clean cuts/scrapes immediately after injuryonce wound is free from debris, OH can be toxic to granulation tissues and use can slow wound healing
moisture balance
moist wound will heal much faster than a wound that is too wet or too dry
goals of wound dressing
keep bacteria out, retain some moisture, but still absorb any excess fluid if needed
non-occlusive dressing
allows for free passage of water, vapor, and bacteria