Practical Approaches to Palliative Wound Care (P7)

Abstract

1.Discuss the pathophysiology associated with wounds for various etiologies, such as pressure or malignant.2.Effectively assess, prepare, and dress wounds of various etiologies.3.Manage associated symptoms, such as pain, bleeding, exudate, and odor.4.Implement strategies to prevent and/or stabilize wounds. Pressure ulcers, malignant, and other chronic wounds have a relatively high prevalence in patients with advanced, life-threatening illnesses, affecting approximately one-third of hospice patients. Both the wound and the sense of being “wounded” can cause considerable suffering for patients, families, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team. During this interactive, hands-on workshop, the presenters will guide participants through the underlying pathophysiology of chronic healable and nonhealable wounds. We will use clinical cases to discuss effective approaches to wound assessment and management, including debridement, cleansing, and moist interactive wound dressings for both healable and nonhealable wounds. Pain, exudate, and odor are distressing symptoms associated with wounds that can be incapacitating and may lead to abandonment of the patient. The workshop will include discussions of the underlying pathophysiology of each of these symptoms, and case-based approaches to their assessment and management, including the use of both systemic and topical antibiotics, analgesics, and anesthetics. Physical Aspects of Care