The thickness of exudate: does it matter?
The majority of chronic wounds are managed in the community by the district nursing team. With increasing constraints on the health-care budget, it can be tempting to manage exudate by focusing solely on the exudate-handling capability of some of the more absorbent dressings available. However, exudate levels and viscosity can change depending on the patient and the wound, with exudate being a marker of potential infection. Ongoing assessment of the wound, the exudate and the patient is pivotal to effective wound management, with timely and appropriate intervention being key. This article discusses this management, with particular focus on dealing with thick exudate.
['Jones|June|J|']
D001458:Bandages D003152:Community Health Nursing D005122:Exudates and Transudates D006801:Humans D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic D014783:Viscosity D014945:Wound Healing D014946:Wound Infection D014947:Wounds and Injuries
Dressings Eudate Wound assessment