wounds
Patient was instructed on another leading type of chronic wounds is pressure ulcers. That occurs when pressure on the tissue is grater than the pressure in capillaries, and thus restricts blood flow into the area. Muscle tissues, which needs more oxygen and nutrients than skin does, show the worst effects from prolonged pressure. As in other chronic ulcers, reperfusion injury damage tissue.
Patient was instructed on traumatic wounds. Contusions are caused by more extensive tissue trauma after severe blunt or blast trauma. The overlying skin may seem to be intact but later become non-viable. Extensive contusion may lead to infection.
Patient was instructed on factors that may contribute to chronic wounds is old age. The skin of older people is more easily damaged, and older cells do not proliferate as fast and may not have an adequate response to stress in terms of gene up regulation of stress related proteins. In older cells, stress response genes are over expressed when the cell is not stressed, but when it is, the expression of these proteins is not regulated by as much as in younger cells.
Patient was instructed on factors that contribute in chronic wounds as repeated trauma. Repeated physical trauma plays a role in chronic wound formation by continually initiating the inflammatory cascade. The trauma occurs by accident, for example when a leg is repeatedly bumped against a wheelchair rest, or it may be due to intentional acts.
Instructed on some signs/symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), such as: increased appetite and slow healing wounds.
Instructed patient on new medication Santyl ointment. It is used for removing the dead skin from wounds or burned areas. Santyl ointment is an enzymatic debriding ointment. It works by breaking down dead skin.
Skilled nurse instructed patient/care giver in Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment in which the patient breathes 100 percent oxygen inside a pressurized chamber for approximately two hours. The therapy quickly delivers high concentrations of oxygen to the bloodstream, accelerating the healing rate of wounds and is effective in fighting certain types of infections. It also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, improving circulation, and helping to prevent future problems.
SN instructed patient to perform daily meticulous foot care, to be sure to dry feet completely after a bath, checking for any sores, cuts or scrapes and to report any wounds as soon as they appear to SN or MD. Also have a podiatrist cut toenails regularly to prevent ingrown toenails and other complications.
Instructed caregiver in vacuum assisted closure (VAC) that is a type of therapy to help wounds heal. The process heal open wound through the application of negative pressure. Another benefits of the negative pressure wound therapy are draining excess fluid from the wound, keeping your wound moist and warm, helping draw together wound edges and increasing blood flow to your wound. Caregiver verbalized understanding.
Instructed caregiver the key to successful wound healing is regular podiatric medical care to ensure the following “gold standard” of care: Lowering blood sugar, appropriate debridement of wounds, treating any infection, reducing friction and pressure, restoring adequate blood flow.