Question

Which of the following wound classes is assigned to a perforated bowel?

1) Class I
2) Class II
3) Class III
4) Class IV

Answer 1

A perforated bowel is assigned to a wound classification of Class III, which indicates a contaminated wound with a significant risk of infection due to spillage from the gastrointestinal tract.

Step-by-step explanation:

A perforated bowel is considered a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention. When it comes to wound classification, a perforated bowel is assigned to Class III, which is also known as a contaminated wound. This classification is based on the increased risk of infection due to the spillage of intestinal contents into the sterile area of the abdominal cavity.

The wound classification system is an important tool used in medicine to predict the risk of wound infection and to guide treatment decisions. Class III wounds are at significant risk for infection because they involve an open traumatic wound or a surgical wound where there has been a major break in sterile technique or a large amount of spillage from the gastrointestinal tract, just like in the case of a perforated bowel.