A lot of people undergo surgery for various medical reasons. With the advent of technology and increased safety, surgery is not a nightmare anymore. But still, it remains a dreaded term mainly because of its invasive nature, surgical wounds, and scars. Let us see how surgical wounds heal and their categorization.
Surgical wounds are cuts or incisions in the skin, which are typically made by a scalpel during the surgical procedure. A surgical wound can also be the result of a drained area during surgery. Surgical wounds alter in size. They are usually closed with stitches but are sometimes left unclosed to heal.
Types of Surgical Wounds:
Surgical wounds can be categorized into four categories. These kinds depend on how contaminated or clean the wound is, the risk of infection, and where the wound is situated on the body. Surgical wounds are frequently monitored to make sure that they are healing properly. Infections may affect only the skin, tissue under the skin, or implants. Indications of a surgical wound infection include:
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- Pus presence
- Delayed healing
- Increased pain and redness around the wound
- A foul smell, or drainage from the wound
- Fever
Classes of Surgical Wounds:
A surgical wound infection can be classified into 4 main classes according to their severity basis. If you are suffering from a post-surgery infection do not delay to see your surgeon. You can consult with the best general surgeon in Karachi, Lahore and all other main cities of Pakistan via Marham.pk.
Class I:
These are termed as clean wounds. They involve areas like eyes, vascular system & skin. They show no indication of infection or redness.
Class II:
Class 2 wounds are considered clean-contaminated. Even though, the wound may not show any significant signs of infection, but it is at an increased risk of becoming infected because of its localizing area. For instance, surgical wounds in the gastrointestinal tract may be at a high risk of becoming infected.
Class III:
It’s a surgical wound that is accompanied by an impact from an outside object, which has come into contact with the skin and has a greater risk of infection. So, this is why these wounds are called contaminated wounds. For example, a gunshot wound may contaminate the skin around where the surgical repair occurred.
Class IV:
This class of wound is considered dirty and contaminated. These include wounds that have been exposed to fecal material. If you are experiencing any surgical wound-related issue or you are prone to develop an infection that is linked with any sort of wound. Immediately consult a physician in Karachi, Islamabad or other main cities of Pakistan, because prevention is better than cure. You can also go for a virtual doctor meeting if you could not visit the doctor, book your online appointment today with the best doctors through Marham.
The Risk Factors Associated With Surgical Wounds:
Any surgical procedure could create a surgical wound. The likelihood of a wound infection after surgery is between 1% to 3%. There are certain risk factors for developing a surgical wound infection which involve other medical issues, such as diabetes (Type 01 & 02) or a weakened immune system. Smokers, older adults, and individuals who are obese also have an increased risk of infection. Emergency, abdominal surgeries, and surgical procedures that last longer than 2 hours bring a higher risk of infection, too.
So, you should seek good medical assistance especially after going through a surgical process.