A case study of holistic wound management in intensive care

Complex wounds that have become contaminated after abdominal surgery can cause a great deal of distress to patients, and the management of such wounds requires an holistic and humanistic approach (Torrance, 1985). This case study aims to address the issues of wound management, involving some of the underlying and surrounding problems - exudate, malodour, nutrition and wound pain - that may be associated with chronic wounds after surgery. Further discussed will be the treatment and use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy which was administered to the patient in this study. The clinical environment is an intensive care unit (ICU) within a district general hospital. The critical care nurse is primarily involved in caring for resuscitation of the critically ill patient and wound care is often a long way down the list of priorities; however, wound management is important and must be addressed at part of holistic nursing care.