Wound Healing Flashcards
What is tissue repair?
- injured cells replaced with cells of the same type
- replacement by connective tissue (scar)
What are the three different healing processes?
- primary intention
- secondary intention
- tertiary intention
Explain primary intention.
There is minimal tissue loss and the wound edges are held together by sutures, clips, tape or glue.
Explain delayed primary intention.
The wound is infected or contains foreign bodies and requires intensive cleaning prior to closure 3-5 days later.
Explain secondary intention.
The wound heals by granulating up from the base, contracting in from the edges and epithelialisation across the wound bed.
Explain tertiary healing.
A form of secondary healing but it is severely infected.
Exudate is important in moist wound healing. Why?
- contains growth factors and nutrients
- has antimicrobial properties
- significantly increased rate of healing
- decreased pain
- autolytic debridement
What are the three tissue repair stages?
- Inflammation
- Reconstruction/proliferation
- Maturation/remodelling
Explain inflammation.
It’s the immediate response of the body and prepares the wound for healing. Takes 2-5 days. Involves:
Haemostatsis:
- vasoconstriction
- platelet aggregation
- thromboplastin (which makes clot)
Inflammation:
- vasodilation
- phagocytosis
Explain reconstruction/proliferation.
Followed after inflammation stage. It takes 3-24 days.
Granulation:
- fibroblats lay bed of collagen
- fills defect and produces new capillaries
Contraction:
- wound edges pull together to reduce defect
Epitheliazation:
- crosses moist surface
- cell travel about 3cm from point of origin in all directions
Explain maturation/remodelling.
This process begins within 3 weeks and may take up to 2 years. The tensil strength increases.
Name seven factors that can affect wound healing.
- age
- sensory disorder
- venous insufficiency
- nutrition
- obesity
- disease
- drugs
- radiation
- impaired immune responses
- psychological issues
- wound management practice
- wound hydration
- wound temperature
- pressure, friction and shear
- foreign bodies
- wound separation
- wound infection
Name two wound management aims.
- maintain moist wound environment
- control exudate and debris
- maintain/improve circulation
- insulate and protect
What is exudate composed of? Explain each.
Purulent (pus)
- contains white cells and debris
- occurs when infection is present
Sanguinous/blood
- as from acute laceration
Haemoserous
- pale pinkish yellow
- contains plasma and red cells
Serous
- pale yellow
- watery fluid from blister
Explain debridement.
Removal of foreign matt or dead tissue from a wound to discourage growth of organisms and promote wound healing.
