Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 24 TSC 579 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Wound Classification
The idea
Surgical wounds are divided into four classes: clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, and dirty or infected.
In practice
Learn the classes as the WHO guideline presents the CDC classification. First, clean: an uninfected wound with no inflammation, where the respiratory, digestive, genital and urinary tracts are not entered. Second, clean-contaminated: one of those tracts is entered under controlled conditions without unusual contamination, such as surgery on the biliary tract or appendix, provided there is no infection or major break in technique. Third, contaminated: fresh accidental wounds, operations with a major break in sterile technique or gross spillage from the gut, or incisions meeting acute, non-purulent inflammation. Fourth, dirty or infected: old traumatic wounds with dead tissue, or wounds with existing infection or a perforated organ.
Where people slip
A major break in sterile technique can move a wound into a higher class. That is one more reason a break is reported, not hidden: it can change the patient's risk and care.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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