Description

A wound involving a mucosal surface may heal slowly or poorly if certain risk factors are present. These can help identify patients who may benefit from preoperative risk reduction and more aggressive management.


 

Risk factors for poor or slow healing of a mucosal wound:

(1) older age (>= 50 years of age)

(2) female gender

(3) previous radiation at the site

(4) malnutrition (protein and/or vitamin deficiency)

(5) corticosteroid therapy

(6) poorly controlled diabetes

(7) infection

(8) poor perfusion

(9) malignancy

(10) heavy cigarette smoking

(11) abnormal tension on the mucosa

(12) foreign body

 


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