Basic Wound Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Basic Wound Care - Essay Example It results when additional pressure interrupts blood flow through the skin. This results in oxygen and nutrient deficiency in the affected skin, which makes it break leading to the formation of the ulcer. Pressure from a hard surface, for instance, wheelchair and bed can cause an ulcer (Dziedzic, 2013). Involuntary muscle movements is another cause besides moisture, which can break down the epidermis. We will focus on old age and terminal disease as some of the risk factors. Individuals, who are old have their skin aging out, which results in loss of elasticity. There is a decline in the blood flow through the skin, which is due to aging effects. Additionally, the amount of fat under the skin decreases as one gets older. All these put together makes the skin vulnerable to damage; hence, an ulcer formation. We will now look at some terminal diseases in patients that can put them at increased risk of pressure ulcers (Qaseem, Humphrey, Forciea, Starkey, & Denberg, 2015). Type one and two diabetes results in increased blood sugar levels, which disrupts the normal flow of blood. In peripheral arterial disease, build-up of fatty substance in arteries hampers blood supply to legs. Heart failure results in reduced blood supply to other parts of the body. Kidney failure results in build-up of harmful toxins, which can cause damage to tissues. Reducing the risk of infection demands regular hand washing, debridement and wound cleansing. Protect the wound from exogenous sources of contamination such as feces (Kifer, 2012). When dressing the wound, clean it using sterile water, topical antiseptic or saline, which reduces the bacterial growth and risk of infection. In cases of foul odor, debridement, and frequent cleansing is necessary. Measurement monitors progress made in the healing process through changes in width, length, volume and area of the wound. Simple measurement technique involves measuring the