Nursing care for surgical wounds: management for treatment

Abstract

Objective: To analyze nursing care strategies for the management of surgical wounds. Methods: A bibliographic and descriptive study, using an integrative review and a qualitative approach, based on the “PICO” strategy, which represents four essential components of the research question: Patient or Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. Accordingly: P – Postoperative patient; I – Nursing care; C – Postoperative period; and O – Management of surgical wounds. Results: Among the selected articles, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) was the most frequently cited technology for the treatment of infected postoperative wounds, accounting for 40% of the total. NPWT reduces the risk of Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in patients with intact surgical incisions and is effective in treating wounds in the postoperative period. Other technologies cited for SSI treatment included silver hydrofiber, PHMB, and oxygen therapy. Final considerations: Nursing plays a fundamental role in preventing and managing surgical wounds and SSIs through the use of specific technologies and individualized care, especially for patients with comorbidities.