Wound healing and management Flashcards
First intention
Occurs by approximation of wound edges soon after injury
Results in narrow scar formation with superior cosmetic result
Most surgical skin incisions are closed, to heal by first intention
4 stages of each intention
Haemostasis
Inflammation
Proliferation
Remodelling
(HOW I PERSONALLY RECTIFIED)
Haemostasis
The action of platelets and cytokines forms a haematoma and causes vasoconstriction, limiting blood loss at the afffected area
The close proxmity of the wound edges allows for ease of clot formation and prevents infection by forming a scab
Purpose of inflammation
A cellular inflamatory response acts to remove any cell debris and pathogens present
Proliferation
- Cytokines released by inflammatory cells drive the prolfieration of fibroblasts and the formation of granulation tissue
- Angiogenesis is promoted by the presence of growth mediators(e.g. VEGF), allowing for further maturation of the granulation tissue; the production of collagen by fibroblasts allows for closure of the wound around a week
Remodelling
- Devascularisation of the region occurs and the fibroblasts undergo apoptosis
What happens if the sutures used to close a wound are too loose
- Wound edges will not be properly opposed, limiting the primary intention healing and reducing wound strength
What happens if the sutures used to close a wound are too tight
- Blood supply to the region may become compromised and lead to tissue necrosis and wound breakdown
3 phases of wound healing
1) Inflammatory phase
2) Reparative Phase
3) Consolidation phase
(I Repair Cuts)
Inflammatory phase overview
- Acute inflammatory processes cascade in response to cellular injury.
- Clot formation, tissue oedema, and increased vascular permeability occur, with fibrin formed in the wound helping to hold the edges together.
- Clean, healthy surgical incisions are typically approximated with sutures, adhesive strips or glues.
- There is no inherent strength of the wound during this phase, which lasts up to 3 days
4 cardinal features of acute inflammation
1) Rubor(redness) - secondary to vasodilatation and increased blood flow
2) Calor(heat) - localised increase in temp, also due to increased blood flow
3) Tumour(swelling) - Results from increased vessel permeability, allowing fluid loss into the interstitial space
4) Dolor(pain) - Caused by stimulation of the local nerve endings, from mechanical and chemical mediators
Phases of acute inflammation
1) Vascular phase
2) Cellular phase
Vascular phase of acute inflammation
- small blood vessels adjacent to the injury dilate (vasodilatation) and blood flow to the area increases
- The endothelial cells initially swell, then contract to increase the space between them, therebyincreasing the permeabilityof the vascular barrier
- This process is regulated bychemical mediators
- Exudation of fluidleads to a net loss of fluid from the vascular space into the interstitial space, resulting inoedema(tumour)
- The formation of increased tissue fluid acts as a medium for which inflammatory proteins(such as complement and immunoglobulins) can migrate through. It may also help to remove pathogens and cell debris in the area through lymphatic drainage
Cellular phase of acute inflammation
- Predominant cell of acute inflammation is the neutrophil
- They are attracted to the site of the injury in the presence of chemotaxins, the mediators released into the blood immediately after the insult
- Once in the region,neutrophilsrecognise the foreign body and beginphagocytosis,the process whereby the pathogen is engulfed and contained with a phagosome.
Thephagosomeis then destroyed via oxygen-independent (e.g. lysozymes) or oxygen-dependent (e.g. free radical formation) mechanisms.
Stages of neutrophil migration
Margination - Cells line up against the endothelium
Rolling - Close contact with and roll along the endothelium
Adhesion - Connecting to the endothelial wall
Emigration - Cells move through the vessel wall ot the affected area
(neutrophils like to Move Rapidly Along Endothelium)
Chemical mediators initiating vasodilatation
Histamine Bradykinin Complement(C3a, C5a) Leukotrienes(LTC3, LTD4) Prostaglandins(PGI2, PGE2, PGD2, PGF2)
Chemical mediators initiating mast cell degranulation
Complements (C3a, C5a)
Chemical mediators for chemotaxis
- Interleukins(IL-8), Platelet activating factor(PAF), Complement(C5a), histamine
Chemical mediators for lysosomal granule release
- Complement(C5a), interleukins(IL-8), PAF
Chemical mediators initiating phagocytosis
- Complement C3b