A dehiscent wound is a surgical wound that has opened during the healing process, which can lead to serious complications such as infection and evisceration. Abdominal surgeries and medical conditions such as connective tissue disorders and diabetes increase the risk of developing a dehiscent wound. Mild cases can be treated with careful bandaging and monitoring, while more serious cases require immediate surgery.
A dehiscent wound is a surgical wound that has opened up during the healing process. In some cases, wound dehiscence may be a medical emergency that requires immediate surgery to repair the wound. For less severe cases, it can be treated with careful bandaging and monitoring for signs of further dehiscence or infection. As people recover from surgery in the hospital, nurses regularly monitor their healing wounds for signs of complications such as spontaneous ruptures and once they get home, people should keep a close eye on their surgical wounds. If there are any signs of dehiscence, the surgeon should be called immediately.
There are a number of factors known to lead to spontaneous ruptures of surgical wounds. Abdominal surgeries are much more likely to end in a dehiscent wound, and these wounds can lead to serious complications such as evisceration, where the contents of the abdomen spill out of the wound when it opens. People with medical conditions such as connective tissue disorders and diabetes have a higher risk of developing a dehiscent wound. Sometimes, this surgical complication is the result of incorrect suture placement.
A major concern with spontaneous reopening of surgical wounds is the potential for infection. If a wound opens, bacteria and other organisms can enter the surgical site and cause complications for the patient. The wound may also become chronically inflamed and irritated, making it difficult for the wound to heal or causing severe scarring as the wound closes. It is also possible for a dehiscent wound to widen beyond the original boundaries of the surgical site due to tension on the wound edges.
In a mild case, the surgical wound opens slightly but does not break along its entire length or up to the base of the incision. The surgeon should be called to examine the wound. Typically the wound will be irrigated to remove any bacteria present and then bandaged to protect it. More serious open wounds may be treated with a vacuum bandage to keep the wound closed and allow the edges to begin to seal.
In deep dehiscent wounds or wounds where evisceration has occurred, the patient requires surgery. The bandage will be covered with moist bandage material and the patient will be prepared for surgery. If a patient is too unstable for surgery, supportive care will be provided while hospital staff work to stabilize the patient for the operating room.
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