Patients ’ perceptions and experiences of living with a surgical wound healing by secondary intention: a qualitative study

Most surgical wounds heal by primary intention, that is to say, the edges of the wound are brought together with sutures, staples, adhesive glue or clips. However, some wounds may be left open to heal (if there is a risk of infection, or if there has been significant tissue loss), and are known as ‘surgical wounds healing by secondary intention’. They are estimated to comprise approximately 28% of all surgical wounds and are frequently complex to manage. However, they are under researched and little is known of their impact on patients’ lives.

Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies - September 27, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Dorothy McCaughan, Laura Sheard, Nicky Cullum, Jo Dumville, Ian Chetter Source Type: research