A patient who underwent abdominal surgery now has a gaping incision due to delayed wound healing. Which method is correct when you irrigate a gaping abdominal incision with sterile normal saline solution, using a piston syringe?
A. Rapidly instill a stream of irrigating solution into the wound.
B. Apply a wet-to-dry dressing to the wound after the irrigation.
C. Moisten the area around the wound with normal saline solution after the irrigation.
D. Irrigate continuously until the solution becomes clear or all of the solution is used.
Correct Answer: D. Irrigate continuously until the solution becomes clear or all of the solution is used.
To wash away tissue debris and drainage effectively, irrigate the wound until the solution becomes clear of all the solution is used. Irrigation helps the wound to heal properly from the inside out; it helps prevent surface healing over an abscess pocket or infected tract. Continue to irrigate the wound until you have administered the prescribed amount of solution or until the solution returned is clear. Note the amount of solution administered. Remove and discard the catheter and syringe in the appropriate container.
Option A: Gently instill a slow, steady stream of irrigating solution into the wound until the syringe empties. Make sure the solution flows from the clean tissue to the dirty area of the wound to prevent contamination of clean tissue by exudate. Be sure the solution reaches all areas of the wound.
Option B: Keep the patient positioned to allow further wound drainage into the basin. Cleanse the area around the wound to help prevent skin breakdown and infection. Gently pack the wound, if ordered, and/or apply dressing.
Option C: Observe for wound size including length, width, and depth; drainage characteristics including type, amount, color, and odor; wound bed tissue type/color including necrotic, slough, eschar, granulating, clean, non-granulating, epithelial; and symptoms of infection including redness, swelling, pain, discharge or increased temperature.
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