What is desiccation in wounds?

Desiccation. If a wound dries, healing is either delayed, or will cease. Exposed, dry wounds are more inflamed, painful, itchy, and have more scab material during the early stages of wound healing. Maceration. Maceration may be due to incontinence, perspiration or excessive exudation.

What types of tissue are found in the wound bed?

There are several tissue types commonly seen in wounds ranging from necrosis and slough to granulation and epithelial tissue. The tissue type within a wound bed can change and unusual presentations may herald malignancy in a wound bed.

How would you describe a wound bed?

+ Descriptors include: strong, foul, pungent, fecal, musty, sweet, etc. Describe in percentages (e.g., 50% of wound bed is covered with loosely adherent yellow slough; 50% beefy, red granulation tissue).

What is epithelial desiccation?

Epithelial desiccation Severe desiccation staining of the corneal epithelium is known to occur as a result of fitting extremely thin high water content hydrogel contact lenses. 31. This phenomenon relates primarily to the fitting of lenses of inappropriate design.

What happens when you desiccate a wound bed?

The presence of necrotic debris in a wound bed slows the process of granulation tissue formation and wound contraction. If the debris is allowed to desiccate then the newly formed hardened eschar further impedes contraction by “stenting” the wound edges apart. Debridement should be performed to remove all necrotic slough, debris, and eschar.

How does desiccation of the wound bed inhibit epithelisation?

desiccation of the wound bed, hypergranulation and periwound debris (scale, scab or dried exudate) will inhibit epithelisation (Figure 4). Hypergranulation commonly results from bacterial imbalance or wound trauma. Rolled or undermined edges can also indicate bacterial imbalance.

Is the formation of a wound bed a prerequisite?

The formation of a healthy wound bed is a prerequisite to the use of many of today’s advanced wound care products. Unless this is achieved, even the most sophisticated and expensive materials are unlikely to function correctly [1]. The concept of wound bed preparation (WBP) as a treatment aim, represents a new direction in wound care thinking.

What are the symptoms of a wound bed?

It is usually creamy yellow in appearance and can be found dehydrated and adhered to the wound bed (Figure 2) or loose and stringy when associated with increased wound moisture. The presence of devitalised tissue in a wound is often a challenge to health care professionals.