Wound Care Essentials

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Caring for Wounds: Importance of a Moist Environment

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All wounds need a moist environment for healing.

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Primary, Secondary, and Active Dressings

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- Primary: Protection - Secondary: Absorb or "suck" a draining wound exudate - Active: Skin grafts or substitutes

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DIME Acronym in Wound Care

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DIME stands for Debridement, manage inflammation & infection, moisture control, & environmental/skin assessment.

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Types of Debridement

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- Autolytic: Natural body defense, scab falls off when it dies - Enzymatic: Commercially made natural enzymes - Mechanical: Wet to dry dressings

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Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

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Wound vac constantly pulls bacteria out of wound bed into canister, used for wounds not healed by stitches or staples.

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)

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HBO is very successful in promoting oxygenation of severe wounds.

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Nutritional Needs for Wound Healing

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Patients with wound vac need a high protein diet, fruits, veggies, and good nutrition.

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Arterial ulcers are related to insufficient blood supply to the extremities.

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Arterial ulcers are characterized by small vessels such as toes being well defined and very painful.

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Venous ulcers are due to impaired return of venous blood from the extremities to the heart.

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Venous ulcers often appear on the lower leg near the ankle, are wet and boggy with lots of drainage, and irregular in shape.

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Neuropathic ulcers occur due to reduced blood supply to the nerves, often related to diabetes.

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Neuropathic ulcers typically occur at the bottom of the foot.