Download Glossary of terms - Tissue Viability Service for Nursing Homes

BIRMINGHAM PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS -TISSUE VIABILITY GUIDELINES/NURSING HOMES
Glossary
Abrasion
A break in the skin integrity through some mechanical process such as friction
or trauma.
Abscess
Accumulation of pus enclosed anywhere in the body which can evacuate to
reveal extensive damage
Antimicrobials
A term used to describe a substance that destroys microbial bacteria or
prevents them multiplying.
Arterial insufficiency
The lumen of the artery becomes smaller due to atherosclerosis, resulting in
less blood being delivered to the lower extremities of the body.
Arterial ulcers
Ulcers that are formed on the lower extremities as a result of arterial
insufficiency.
Blanching hyperaemia
An area of erythema that turns white under finger pressure
Cellulitis
Inflammation and infection of the cells associated with redness, heat, swelling
and pain. Common bacterial agents are staphyloccus aureus and
streptococcus.
Clinical infection
The presence of multiplying bacteria in a localised wound environment
Collagen
Main protein involved in wound healing that provides strength and structure to
tissues
Colonisation
Multiplication of bacterial organisms without a host reaction.
Contamination
Organisms present in a wound, not multiplying or causing a host reaction.
Debridement
Removal of devitalised or contaminated tissue
Dermis
The skin layer between the epidermis and the subcutaneous tissue
Emollient
Used to moisturise the skin. A mixture of water, oil and emulsifiers.
Epidermis
Outermost layer of the skin
Epithelialisation
End stage of wound healing, epithelial cells migrate across the wound surface
to close the wound. Pink/pale mauve in colour.
EPUAP
European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
Erythema
Redness of the skin in relation to either inflammation, infection or prolonged
pressure to tissue.
Eschar
Non viable, devitalised tissue characterised by a thick black crust
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BIRMINGHAM PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS -TISSUE VIABILITY GUIDELINES/NURSING HOMES
Excoriation
A superficial loss of the outermost layer of skin by scratching, trauma,
chemicals in contact with the skin surface
Exudate
Serous fluid that passes through damaged or over extended veins.
Consistency changes according to the state of the wound bed. Some exudate
is required in a wound to achieve the optimum wound environment.
Friction
The resistance of one surface to another that moves over it characterised by a
blister.
Full thickness
Tissue destruction extending down through the dermis and subcutaneous
tissue and fascia to muscle and bone.
Granulation
The growth of new tissue. The appearance will be pink/ red in colour with
lumps over the surface. The lumps are as a result of new capillaries growing
through the wound matrix.
Indolent
Static, lazy wound
Infection
Overgrowth of micro organisms in sufficient quantities to over whelm the
body’s immune system
Inflammation
A physiological response of the body’s immune system to injury, lasting for
approximately 3 days, as a result of the release of chemical mediators to fight
off invading bacteria.
Lipodermatosclerosis
A clinical feature of venous leg ulceration, the adipose tissue becomes hard,
fibrosed and woody.
Lipoedema
Bilateral enlargement of the legs due to oedema in the subcutaneous fat
layer.
Maceration
The softening of tissue that has had prolonged moisture on it. The skin
becomes white and ‘soggy’.
Maturation
The final stage of wound healing involving wound contraction, full
epithelialisation and reorganisation of the cellular matrix.
Microcirculation
Small vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and waste
products away.
Necrosis
Death of a tissue or organ in response to lack of blood flow, trauma or
infection
Non blanching hyperaemia
An area of reddened skin that does not turn white under finger pressure.
Indicative of microcirculation damage as a result of unrelieved pressure.
Requires immediate intervention.
Oedema
An accumulation of fluid within the interstitial spaces of tissues.
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BIRMINGHAM PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS -TISSUE VIABILITY GUIDELINES/NURSING HOMES
Overgranulation
Granulation tissue fills the wound and becomes proud of the surface
preventing the migrating epithelial cells from closing the wound. Can be as a
result of chronic infection.
Papillomatosis
Upward projections of dermis into the epidermis of the skin. Appear as wart
like growths.
Peri-wound
The outer margins of a wound
Pressure reduction
Redistribution of pressure over a larger surface to spread the pressure load,
this in turn reduces the force on a bony prominence.
Pressure relief
Removal of the source of pressure, achieved through repositioning the body
surface.
Prevalence
An epidemiological term that describes the proportion of a population that has
a specific condition at one point in time.
Primary dressing
A dressing that is placed in direct contact with the wound bed.
Proliferation
Rapid multiplication of cells or the second stage of wound healing.
Reactive hyperaemia
Red flushing of the tissues followed by a period of ischaemia, occurs as a
result of microcirculatory damage.
Secondary dressing
Used to secure a primary dressing and to increase the absorptive capacity.
Shear
A force that acts on the body from one direction and can cause distortion and
twisting of the underlying tissue.
Slough
A mixture of dead white cells, dead bacteria, rehydrated necrotic tissue and
fibrous tissue. Can be soft or fibrous. If present in large quantities it needs to
be removed through a form of debridement.
Strike through
Evidence of wound exudate appearing on the outer surface of the wound
dressing, indicating a need to change the dressing
Thirty degree tilt
Places the patient at a slight angle with the use of pillows reducing the direct
pressure on bony prominences.
Tissue Viability
An umbrella term for the management, prevention and treatment of wounds
Ulcer
A lesion to the skin, a non healing chronic wound
Undermine
Edges of a wound that have lost supporting tissues under intact skin
Vasculitis
Inflammation of blood vessels
Venous hypertension
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BIRMINGHAM PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS -TISSUE VIABILITY GUIDELINES/NURSING HOMES
The veins become engorged with blood as a result of the inability of damaged
valves in the veins to return the blood back up to the heart. The excess fluid
creates high pressure within the lumen of the vein.
Venous insufficiency
The valves in the superficial veins become inadequate as a result of trauma,
DVT, pregnancy or long periods of standing
Venous return
The ability of the circulatory system to return blood back up to the heart.
Wound bed preparation
An umbrella term for the clinical measures taken to remove any barriers to
wound healing. For example, the management of infection, control of exudate
and debridement of unhealthy tissue.
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