Acute Wound Care

Abstract

January 2007

Section 1 Basic Surgical and Perioperative Considerations

7 Acute Wound Care

Stephen R. Sullivan, M.D.
Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

Loren H. Engrav, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Professor of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

Matthew B. Klein, M.D.
Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine

The goal of acute wound management is a closed, healing wound that will result in the best functional and aesthetic outcome. The authors address the key considerations in management of the acute wound, including anesthesia, choice of repair site (i.e., operating room or emergency department), debridement, irrigation, hemostasis, closure materials, timing and methods of closure, appropriate closure methods for specific wound types, dressings, adjunctive treatment (e.g., tetanus and rabies prophylaxis, antibiotics, and nutritional supplementation), postoperative wound care, and potential disturbances of wound healing. Finally, they briefly review the physiology of wound healing. This chapter contains 189 references.

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