What is surgical dehiscence?

What is surgical dehiscence?

Wound dehiscence is a surgery complication where the incision, a cut made during a surgical procedure, reopens. It is sometimes called wound breakdown, wound disruption, or wound separation. ‌Partial dehiscence means that the edges of an incision have pulled apart in one or more small areas.

How do you describe wound dehiscence?

Wound dehiscence (dih-HISS-ints) is a condition where a cut made during a surgical procedure separates or ruptures after it has been stitched back together.

What does dehiscence look like?

A dehisced wound can appear fully open – the tissue underneath is visible – or it can be partial, where just the top portion of the skin has torn open. The wound could be red around the wound margins, have drainage, or it could be bleeding or seeping, where only a thin trickle of blood is coming out.

How is surgical dehiscence treated?

Treatment may include:

1. Antibiotics if an infection is present or possible.
2. Changing wound dressing often to prevent infection.
3. Open would to air—will speed up healing, prevent infection, and allow growth of new tissue from below.
4. Negative pressure wound therapy—a dressing that is to a pump that can speed healing.

How long does wound dehiscence take to heal?

How is dehiscence treated? The average time for an abdominal incision to fully heal is roughly 1 to 2 months. If you think your wound may be reopening, or if you notice any symptoms of dehiscence, contact your doctor or surgeon immediately.

How common is wound dehiscence?

Wound dehiscence is estimated to occur in 0.5–3.4% of abdominopelvic surgeries, and carries a mortality of up to 40%.

How long does a wound dehiscence take to heal?

How long does an open surgical wound take to heal?

In most cases, a surgical incision heals in about two weeks. More complex surgical incisions will take longer to heal. If you have other medical conditions or are taking certain medications, your healing time may differ.

A: Prolonged wound healing It can take some time for a dehisced wound to fully heal, sometime longer than expected. It sounds as though your plastic surgeon is handling your dehisced incision properly. It usually takes ones like this about 6 to 8 weeks to heal.

How to deal with Wound dehiscence?

Clean your wound as directed.

Change your bandages as directed.

Wear your binder or splint at all times or as directed.

Use devices as directed to help the wound heal.

Eat foods high in protein.

How is a dehisced wound treated?

You may need any of the following to treat wound dehiscence: Medicines may be needed to treat an infection, help your wound heal, or decrease pain. Daily wound care includes examining, cleaning, and bandaging your wound. A wound vacuum is a device that is placed over your wound.

What is dehiscence and evisceration?

Dehiscence and Evisceration. Dehiscence is a surgical complication where the edges of a wound no longer meet. It is also known as “wound separation.” A healthy, healing wound will have edges that meet neatly and are held closely together by sutures, staples or another method of closure.