Wounds Flashcards
List and define the wound types.
Incision = clean straight line e.g. surgical procedure
Laceration = jagged edges, cuts to skin surface
Abrasion = damage to epithelial surface e.g. graze
Contusion = bruising
Puncture = deep, penetrating, infectious e.g. cat bite
Describe the wound classifications.
Class 1 = 0-6hrs, minimal contamination
Class 2 = 6-12hrs, microbial burden has not reached critical level
Class 3 = 12hrs+, wound infection (do not want to surgically close these!)
What considerations should we have when a patient presents with an open wound?
History, pre-existing conditions
Medications e.g. steroids
Breed, species, age
Position, type, cause of wound
Time since incident
First aid? Haemorrhage?
Owner compliance
Cost/insurance
Practice resources and expertise
List the stages of wound healing.
Inflammatory phase (0-5 days)
Debridement phase (day 0+)
Repair/proliferation phase (day 3 - 4 weeks)
Remodelling phase (day 20+)
Describe the inflammatory phase of wound healing.
Haemorrhage, vasodilation, increased vascular permeability
Describe the debridement phase of wound healing.
Phagocytosis, migration of WBCs, removal of cellular debris
Describe the repair/proliferative phase of wound healing.
Fibroblasts proliferate, collagen synthesis, epithelialisation and contraction
Describe the remodelling phase of wound healing.
Wound contraction and remodelling of collagen fibres
Why do we carry out wound lavage?
Reduce bacterial load - for every hour earlier lavaged, bacterial load halved!
Allows for visualisation of underlying tissues
How do we carry out wound lavage?
Use 35/40ml syringe and 19G needle
Too much pressure can penetrate debris further into tissues!
Use isotonic saline to avoid damage to cells (never chlorhex!)
What options do we have for allowing a wound to heal?
Primary wound closure (first intention)
Delayed primary closure (third intention
Contraction and epithelialisation (second intention)
What considerations should we have when deciding to allow a wound to heal by second intention?
Topical agents?
Dressings
Types of bandage material
Client compliance
Cost
Expertise
Why would we consider using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT)?
Reduced oedema and exudate accumulation
Elimination of strikethrough because wound fluid is evacuated into collection canister
increased central wound perfusion and vascularisation
Rapid contraction and wound healing
Reduction in dressing changes
Why do we use manuka honey in practice?
Broad spectrum antimicrobial activity
Anti-inflammatory properties
Shown to be effective against MRSA and Pseudomonas
What considerations should we have when using honey for wound healing?
Higher level of exudate so consider dressings
Consider initial use to aid granulation then switch to hydrogel
Great for granulation but must stop using when sufficient to avoid over-granulation (excess scar tissue)
Describe the use of silver in wound healing.
Topical agent in various forms e.g. creams/dressings
Primary benefit is antimicrobial effects - indicated for inflammatory phase
Why would we use a wet-to-dry dressing?
Useful for debridement
Wet swabs on wound surface removed at change debrides surface of wound
What are the cons of wet-to-dry dressings?
Environmental bacteria
Strikethrough
Discomfort
Gauze fibres left behind
Describe hydrogel dressings.
E.g. Intrasite gel, GranuGel
Water-based, amorphous, cohesive
Applied to wound bed and covered with secondary, non-absorbent dressing
Describe hydrocolloid dressings.
E.g. Aquacel, Granuflex, Hydrocoll
Carboxymethylated cellulose, pectin, gelatine
Forms a non-adherent gel on contact with wound
Not commonly used in open wound management
Describe vapour-permeable films/membranes.
E.g. Primapore, Melolin
Sheet of absorbent material between two thin layers of film that contain small pores for movement of gas and fluid
Describe foam dressings.
E.g. Kendall Foam, Allevyn, ActivHeal Foam
Hydrophilic dressings made of polyurethane foam
Adhesive or non-adhesive
With or without breathable film backing
What considerations should we have when bandaging a wound?
Patient comfort
Patient interference
Secondary bandage concerns
How often to change
Position/area of wound
What kind of bandaging can we do for expansive, body wounds?
Tie-over dressings