Perceptions and Life Experiences of Patients With Wound Healing by Secondary Intention After the Removal of Thoracic Drainage Tube

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of patients with wound healing by secondary intention after the removal of a thoracic drainage tube. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: After removal of the tube, patients who were attending a nursing clinic that provides WOC care to a population of around 1 million people in Suzhou, China, were invited to participate. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of data was performed using Colaizzi's 7-step thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from the interviews, namely, emotional stress response, impaired social function, and increased disease burden. CONCLUSION: Patients with wound healing by secondary intention after the removal of the drainage tube perceived they experienced an emotional stress reaction accompanied by increased psychological and economic burden. They also experienced impaired social function. There is a critical need to develop health education plans for use during the pre- and postoperative periods to reduce emotional, social, and economic consequences associated with delayed wound healing.

Wound Healing and Assessment

“…Primary intention is the closure of a clean wound with the goal of a durable healed scar. The edges are approximated with sutures, staples, adhesive glues, or clips (Yi et al, 2020). These wounds tend to heal rapidly and with minimal scar formation.…”

“…Large wounds with more tissue loss may need to heal by secondary intention as the reparative process becomes more complicated (Chhabra et al, 2017). Wounds at risk for infection or at a high risk for dehiscence may also be left to heal by secondary intention (Yi et al, 2020). Dehiscence may result because of excess tension at wound margins and can occur over joints with significant range of motion or at sites where edema and inflammation are present.…”

The Management of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Skin Ulcers after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Report

“…This method is especially important in educating patients with chronic wounds. These patients frequently ask whether their wound can heal and about the healing time frame, and they are prone to lose confidence in treatment due to uncertainty 22 . Anxiety can easily affect wound healing and result in a vicious cycle.…”

“…These patients frequently ask whether their wound can heal and about the healing time frame, and they are prone to lose confidence in treatment due to uncertainty. 22 Anxiety can easily affect wound healing and result in a vicious cycle. When wound care nurses encourage and compliment patients' performance, they are more likely to be convinced that the wound is getting better and that the nurses care about their eventual healing.…”

Efficacy of multi-groove silicone drains in single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery and their effect on C-reactive protein: a single-center experience

“…In our study, thoracic drainage volume, the average VAS pain scores in incisions, the rate of primary healing at the site of incisions, and the pulmonary infection rate in the multi-groove silicone drain group were lower than those in the conventional chest drain group (P<0.05). Because of their soft texture and strong flexibility, multi-groove silicone drains can alleviate pain accompanied with intercostal nerve compression, increase the rate of primary healing at the site of incisions caused by soft tissue extrusion by the drain, and further lessen the psychological, economic burden, and impaired social function of patients due to wound healing (33). Besides, total thoracic drainage volume in the multi-groove silicone drain group was lower than the conventional chest drain group (P=0.030).…”