Wound/skin care Flashcards
Debridement
Removal of devitalized tissue, foreign matter, infected tissue
Desiccation
dehydration; drying up of skin cells and can cause cell death/delay wound healing
Maceration
Softening or break down of skin from exposure to excess moisture
(Urinary or bowel incontinence can cause this)
Primary healing intention
Approximated edges, sutures or staples, small amounts of tissue loss, minimal scarring,
Secondary healing intention
Edges not approximated, granulation tissue, packed with gauze, drainage systems, longer healing, more scar tissue
Serous drainage and time frame
Clear serous portion of blood
Watery, yellowish/pinkish/ clear
Up to 3 days post op
Sanguineous drainage and time frame
Many RBCs
Bright to dark red
First 24 hours post op during hemostasis (wound still trying to heal)
Serosanguineous description and time frame
Mix of RBCs and serum
Dark pink but able to see through
Up two 3 days post op
Should volume of drainage increase or decrease after surgery?
Decrease
Purulent drainage description and time frame
WBCs, dead tissue, bacteria
Foul smell, color varies
2-7 days post op wound infection likely
Scant
Wound moist but no measurable amount exeduate on dressing
Copious
Large amount of lolllll wound has fluid
Covers 75% of bandage
Small amount of exeduate
<25% exeduate
None (exeduate)
Too dry
Moderate amount of exeduate
25-75 %
Signs of local infection
Heat Puss Increased pain Increased inflammation Redness Tenderness
Systemic infection symptoms
Fever Chills Malaise Tachycardia Decreased BP Increased WBC
Hemorrhage
Excessive bleeding (can be internal or external)
Dehiscence
Separation of wound from excess stress put in wound that hasn’t healed Shiny/tight, redness Hot Swollen May look infected
Evisceration
Complication from dehiscence where organs come out of wound (protrusion)
3 factors contributing to pressure ulcers
External pressure (prolonged)
Friction
Sheer
Friction
Rubbing together of surfaces causes skin break down and can damage bvs
Sheer
Tissue layers sliding over each other and cause micro tears(damages bvs so decreased perfusion)
Poor nutrition and wound healing
If nutrition is not good, wound healing takes longer
How does DM increase chance of infection
High sugar content in blood (bacteria loves sugar) and poor circulation
Why do we consider fecal and urinary incontinence with wound healing
Excess moisture = skin break down
Fecal matter/urine bacteria can also increase chance infection
Why do we pack wounds with moist NS gauze
Prevent tissue damage when removing gauze later
We don’t want to remove granulated tissue
Why to assess pain when performing wound care
Pain is likely to occur when changing wound dressings, so we want to alleviate the pain before starting
When to empty JP drain
1/2 or 1/3 full
What to monitor with dilaudid
RR, O2, sedation level
Expected signs of primary wound healing
No signs dehiscence Dry blood Slight swelling Slightly warm Reddened edges
Expected healing secondary wound
Small amounts fat visible Shininess Red (healthy tissue) Reddened edges No drainage
1 most likely complication of surgical wound
Bleeding (hemorrhage)
What type of hemorrhage is more likely (internal or external)
External in first 24 hours
2 most likely complication of wound
Infection
How to prevent wound infections
Broad spectrums
Dry and clean dressing
Change dressing at appropriate intervals
Standard precautions
Why would WBC be high post op?
Inflammation: first 24 hours
Infections:2-7 days
Eschar
Black/grey non-viable tissue
Slough
Yellow/green non-viable tissue