The Complex Process of Wound Healing

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Wound healing is a complex process for the body. There are many factors that are involved in the process of wound healing. Surgical technologists need to be aware of how wounds are classified to show level of contamination, the healing process, complications that can delay healing to patients, and the implications.

According to J. Zinn (2012), “In 1964, the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council1 published its land- mark study on the use of ultraviolet lights in the OR, and the era of classifying wounds by the contamination present (or the potential for contamination) began.” The categories for wound healing were originally put into place by The American College for surgeons and then the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) modified them (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 274). The first is Class I or clean wounds. These are wounds that are clean and do not enter any tracts such as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), respiratory tract, and urinary tract. An example would be a clean incision for a surgery (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 275). Second is Class II or clean contaminated wounds. These are uncontaminated wounds or incisions that enter a tract (Mulholland and Doherty, 2006, p. 141) An example of this is a hysterectomy (J. Zinn, 2012, p.275). Third is class III or contaminated wounds. These are open accidental wounds, a break in sterile technique, or the spillage from a tract such as the GI tract (Mulholland and Doherty, 2006, p.141). Lastly is Class IV or dirty/infected wounds. The wounds are more than four hours old and were more than likely contaminated prior to incision (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 276). Along with classifications of wounds there are types of wound healing.

Wound healing is separated in different categories. The first is p...

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..., RN, J. (2011, February 26). Surgery incision complication dehiscence and evisceration – surgical wound dehiscence and evisceration. Retrieved from http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/ss/DehiscenceEvisc.htm

Mulholland, M. W., & Doherty, G. M. (2006). Complications in surgery. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Wound Care. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.atitesting.com/ati_nextn/skillsmodules/content/wound care/equipment/a_and_p.html

Zinn, J. L. (2012). Surgical wound classification:Communication is needed for accuracy. AORN Journal, 95(2), 274-278. Retrieved from http://www.nursingconsult.com/nursing/journals/0001-2092/full text/PDF/s0001209211011070.pdf?issn=0001 2092&full_text=pdf&pdfName=s0001209211011070.pdf&spid=24970366&article_id= 77435

Zinn, S. P. Types of Wound Healing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.medstudentlc.com/page.php?id=67

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