Wound dehiscence of approximately 2cm at the centre of the wound line occurs following removal of the sutures What immediate action should the nurse take?

Answer 1

What was the name and manufacturer of the sutures? I experienced dihescence of a surgical wound and found out that a number of people had the same problem. I went back to the dermatologist that performed the surgery and she dug into the wound to remove all the stitches and sent me home with "Biafine" cream to insert into the void 2x per day. Saying that the wound will now have to heal by itself from the inside out. She inadverdently missed one of the sutures originally placed. it has been 3 months and my wound is still not healed. Instead of a straight line scar that I'm supposed to have, I have a large circle of scar tissue. The immediate action taken should be to remove the stitches as the problem is probably a tissue rejection of the suture material. I'd have said the nurse should retain the expressed fluid for culture as we're almost certianly looking at an infection, and possibly an anaerobic one at that (some of which are decidedly nasty). Note in the chart any other effects, including putridity. Flush the wound and (with the doctor there at this point) consider debriding the wound. Choice of antiseptic and antibiotic would depend on the results of the culture. I'd enjoy hearing other opinions.