Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has recently undergone hernial surgery. The nurse knows that which of the following are possible causes of complications with regard to surgical wounds?

a. Smoking
b. Adequate nutrition
c. Early ambulation
d. Sterile technique
e. Controlled diabetes

Answer 1

Possible causes of complications in surgical wounds include smoking, improper sterile technique, and uncontrolled diabetes, while adequate nutrition and early ambulation are beneficial and do not cause complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse is aware that certain factors can lead to complications with surgical wounds. The possible causes of complications in the healing of a surgical wound include:

• Smoking: Impairs blood flow and oxygen delivery to the wound, which is crucial for healing.
• Adequate nutrition: Contrary to it being a cause for complication, having adequate nutrition is actually beneficial for wound healing. Therefore, this is not a correct answer.
• Early ambulation: While it is important for preventing complications such as blood clots, early ambulation itself does not cause wound complications.
• Sterile technique: The use of proper aseptic technique is essential to avoid contamination and prevent surgical wound infections, also known as nosocomial infections. Inadequate sterile technique can lead to complications.
• Controlled diabetes: Similar to adequate nutrition, controlled diabetes is important for wound healing. Uncontrolled diabetes, however, can lead to high blood sugar levels, which can encourage the growth of microorganisms and delay wound healing, leading to complications.

Among the options provided, smoking, improper sterile technique, and uncontrolled diabetes (not listed) can be considered possible causes of surgical wound complications.