Wound Clinic Journal: The Usage Of Silver-Based Dressings

Wound management is one of the cornerstones for nursing care however, effective wound care extends far beyond the application of the wound itself. Nurses may be required to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate wound care; therefore, order to fill these roles it’s critical to have an understanding of the several different areas of wound care such as, integumentary system, classification of wounds, wound procedures, and documentation. Knowledge in each of these areas will allow nurses to make well informed decisions about wound care, and as a result play an active part in wound healing.

I get to see various types of wound, from pressure ulcer of different stages, unbelievable edemas, arterial and venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and many other wounds of uncertain causes. I have never expected to see those kinds of wounds. I have seen different drainage amount, color, and odor, various shapes and location of the wounds, and amputated edematous legs. I have learned also the different types of dressings and antibacterial ointments used. I had given the chance to observe a client on their high-tech hyperbaric oxygen therapy which makes the wound healing even faster. The most important lesson I have learned from the team members was, “DO NOT GET

The process of wound assessment requires accurate and appropriate interventions while dealing with the patients. There are some major components which the operator must consider to effectively access an infection, and they require a range of skills and knowledge. These factors are the knowledge of relevant anatomy and physiology, the understanding of the various factors that accelerate wound growth, and the ability to listen and understand the patient’s needs. In wound accessing, the doctor should have an idea concerning the number and location of wounds, the required treatments depending on the type of infection, the type of wound in accordance to various grading given, and the procedures to follow to achieve the treatment

Franks, P. J., & Moody, M. (2007). Randomized trial of two foam dressings in the management

In the UK, there are 200,000 patients, who have slow healing wounds, which costs National Health Services £2.3-£3.1 billions per year and it reduces patients’ quality of life and mobility (Posnett & Franks, 2008). In addition, patients may have sleeping difficulties due to painful wound (Posnett & Franks, 2008). Patients may become depressed, isolated and have impaired body image due pain and embarrassment of unpleasant wound odour (Santy, 2008).

Pressure ulcer prevention (PUP) in surgical patients has become a major interest in acute care hospitals with the increased focus on patient safety and quality of care. A pressure ulcer is any area of skin or underlying tissue that has been damaged by unrelieved pressure or pressure in combination with friction and shear. Pressure ulcers are caused due to diminished blood supply which in turn leads to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to the affected tissues (Tschannen, Bates, Talsma, &Guo, 2012). Pressure ulcers can cause extreme discomfort and often lead to serious, life threatening infections, which substantially increase the

According to Reeve et al. (2015), one of the most frequently performed procedures in the emergency department is wound cleansing of acute lacerations. The goal of cleaning a

Perform sterile dressing changes as ordered, less than or excessive changes can affect the healing process and increase the risk for infection. There are also implications for infection control and delayed healing due to repeated wound exposure, and an increased risk of epidermal damage and irritant contact dermatitis by repeatedly removing adhesive products (Hollinworth, 2005). The wound should be packed with enough gauze to cover the open wound but it should not be packed in too tightly because that obstructs air getting to the tissues. Once the wound has been packed, a few dry pieces of gauze should be placed over the open wound followed by the abdominal pad. The area around the skin should be dry because moist skin can lead to breakdown and further skin complications. The last step of the process is to clearly label the dressing so that when other nurses and healthcare professional come to assess the client, they will know when and by whom the dressing was last changed by. The nurse should be explaining what he/she is doing as the application goes on, and teach the patient why sterile technique is necessary. By teaching, the nurse is informing the patient how he/she can be more involved in their own care and the importance of keeping their wound clean because it can lead to further and more

All ulcers healed with no contractures or scars on average of three weeks. The dressing budget reduced by 75%, satisfaction was high among patients and pain was significantly reduced. Honey had antimicrobial effect and eliminated malodour. Among patients and clinicians, the honey proved to be cost effective and efficacious.

Aim: This paper considers the effectiveness of different methods of closure materials after surgery looking primarily at complications such as infection rates and dehiscence of wounds. Secondary outcomes measured include cosmetic scar evaluation, patient satisfaction, and cost, ease of use and speed of application.

However, similar wound infection rates have been reported in adult and pediatric populations with saline irrigation versus 1% povidone-iodine. A well-established disadvantage is its cytotoxicity to healthy cells and granulating tissues. The solution dries and tends to discolor skin. It may also cause local irritation to the peri-wound skin25. 73(36.5%) patients in the povidone iodine group reported wound itching following dressing, which stopped within two weeks. Brownish discoloration of the granulating tissues was reported by all patients in this group. There was no difference between the Povidone iodine group and the other groups regarding cosmetic healing of the laid open wound. No local or systemic adverse effects of Povidone iodine use or signs of toxicity were observed or reported by any patient in our

Since the concept of wound bed preparation arose (Schultz et al, 2003), striving to achieve a wound environment that is conducive to healing has become increasingly important (Dowsett, 2002). Debridement plays a crucial role in this concept. Eliminating non viable tissue from wound bed which acts as a significant barrier to wound repair if not removed (Dowsett and Claxton, 2006). The presence of necrotic tissue in wound has known deleterious effects including sepsis and delayed healing. Debridement is therefore an essential adjuct in treatment of non healing ulcer (Anu, Emane and Morris, 2001). Debridement is the removal of devitalized or contaminated tissue within or adjacent to wound until surrounding tissue is exposed (Smith, 2002).According to International Diabetic Federation (2004), removal of dead or devitalized tissue is paramount for effective wound care of DFUs. Frykberg et al, (2006) advocate regular debridement to remove necrotic tissue and reduce burden in order to expedite wound healing. Although it is widely accepted that debridement may be necessary for optimal wound healing for DFUs, evidence from randomized trials relating to the effectiveness of its different method is lacking and method of measuring its effectiveness are poorly developed (Haycock and Chadwick, 2012). Debridement has always been

OMMENTARY Proper cleansing to create a wound environment optimal for healing is perhaps the key component of acute and chronic wound management. Cleansing methods often differ among individual health care providers, institutions, and facilities and many times are based on individual experiences and personal preferences.1,2 A variety of cleansing solutions exist, and their selection should be based on cleansing effectiveness and lack of cytotoxicity. Is tap water safe and effective when used as a cleanser to attempt to create a wound environment for optimal healing? Many cleansing solutions have demonstrated safe and effective results, whereas others may damage and destroy cells essential to the healing

Non healing ulcers represent a common problem in the plastic surgery practice. Many patients are unable to undergo definitive form of treatment immediately as they are medically unfit to undergo any procedure under general anesthesia or the wound bed is not ready for definitive cover. In such situations wound bed preparation plays a very important role.

Wound healing is a very important aspect of the postoperative process. Depending on many different factors pertaining to a postoperative wound; different steps can be taken to decrease a patient’s chance to develop an infection. The one goal a surgical team wants to achieve is to leave a less noticeable scar and no infection in a wound. There are different challenges and situations a Surgical Technologist and the surgical will have to work around. The wound healing process all depends on the type of wound and classification, complications that may arise, postoperative infections, and the role of the Surgical Technologist within the wound healing process.