Surgical Wounds: Phases of Wound Healing

These flashcards cover important vocabulary related to surgical wounds and their healing processes.

Hemostasis

Termination of bleeding that begins as soon as the injury occurs.

Inflammatory Phase

Initial increase in blood elements and water flow from blood vessels into vascular space, causing signs of inflammation such as erythema, heat, edema, pain, and tissue dysfunction.

Reconstruction Phase

Phase where collagen formation occurs, adding tensile strength to the wound and tissue.

Maturation Phase

Phase where fibroblasts exit the wound; the wound gains strength but rarely returns to original tissue strength.

Primary Intention

Wound healing where skin edges are close together, resulting in minimal scarring.

Secondary Intention

Healing that occurs when skin edges are not close together; may involve pus and requires drainage.

Tertiary Intention

Delayed suturing of a wound involving granulation tissue, often after infection control.

Nutritional Needs

Refers to dietary services provided for patients who cannot tolerate food or fluids, including total parenteral nutrition.

Dehiscence

Wound layers separate, possibly after sneezing, coughing or vomiting, with a preceding serosanguineous drainage.

Evisceration

Medical emergency where abdominal organs protrude through an opened incision, requiring immediate surgical repair.

Wound Infection

Contamination of surgical wound, characterized by purulent drainage, fever, and elevated WBC count.

Drainage Systems

Require close monitoring of drainage characteristics, patency, and potential kinking or occlusion.

Serous Exudate

Clear, watery fluid that has been separated from its solid elements.

Sanguineous Exudate

Fluid that contains blood.

Serosanguineous Exudate

Thin and red fluid composed of serum and blood.

Purulent Exudate

Thick drainage that may be brown, yellow, or green, indicating infection.

Suture Removal

Typically occurs within 7 to 10 days post-surgery, following physician's written order.