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Wound Dehiscence Definition
Wound dehiscence is the parting of the layers of a surgical wound. Either the surface layers separate or the whole wound splits open. This is a serious condition.
Causes
Wound dehiscence varies depending on the kind of surgery. The following is a list of generalized causes:
- Infection at the wound
- Pressure on sutures
- Sutures too tight
- Injury to the wound area
- Weak tissue or muscle at the wound area
- Incorrect suture technique used to close operative area
- Poor closure technique at the time of surgery
- Use of high dose or long-term corticosteroids
- Severe vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)
Wound Infection
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http://services.epnet.com/GetImage.a...?ImageIID=6226 Risk Factors
The following factors increase chances of developing wound dehiscence.
- Overweight
- High blood pressure
- Increasing age
- Poor nutrition
- Sex: female
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Malignant growth
- Presence of prior scar at the incision site
Symptoms
Oner more of these symptoms in the surgical area,
- Bleeding
- Pain
- discharge
- Swelling
- Redness
- Fever
- Broken sutures
- Open wound
Diagnosis
Investigations may include the following:
- Laboratory Tests
- Wound and tissue cultures to determine if there is an infection
- Blood tests to determine if there is an infection
- Imaging Studies
- X-ray to evaluate the extent of wound separation
- Ultrasound to evaluate for pus and pockets of fluid
- CT Scan to evaluate for pus and pockets of fluid
Treatment - Drug Therapy
- Medical Treatment
- When appropriate, frequent changes in wound dressing to prevent infection
- When appropriate, wound exposure to air to accelerate healing and prevent infection, and allow growth of new tissue from below
- Surgical Intervention
- Surgical removal of contaminated, dead tissue
- Resuturing
Prevention - When appropriate, antibiotic therapy prior to surgery
- When appropriate, antibiotic therapy after surgery
- When using wound dressing, maintain light pressure on wound
- Keep wound area clean
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