Assessment of the patient's sternal surgical incision reveals that the skin between sutures is opened.There is a small amount of drainage present on the dressing.The nurse would anticipate caring for this wound as it heals in which manner?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of an open wound with drainage indicates that healing will occur by secondary intention, as the wound will need to heal from the bottom up through the process of granulation tissue formation and epithelialization. Tertiary intention involves delayed closure of a wound, while primary intention involves the immediate closure of a wound. Recurrent surgical debridement would not be appropriate for a healing wound.

Assessment of the Patient's Sternal Surgical Incision Reveals That the Skin