Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

Which option improves wound healing through autolysis and angiogenesis?

1. Provide-iodine products

2. Moisture-reactive occlusive dressing

3. Whirlpool

4. Topical agents combined with mechanical debridement

The correct answer is: Moisture-reactive occlusive dressing

The correct choice of moisture-reactive occlusive dressing highlights the importance of maintaining an optimal wound microenvironment to enhance healing. These dressings create a moist environment that facilitates autolysis, which is the body's natural process of breaking down necrotic tissue without the need for mechanical debridement or chemical intervention. In addition, moisture-retentive dressings support angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, by keeping the wound bed hydrated and promoting the migration of essential cells involved in the healing process. These dressings effectively prevent desiccation and support cellular activities vital for tissue regeneration, thereby leading to improved wound healing outcomes. The other options do not specifically promote both autolysis and angiogenesis in the same way. For instance, provide-iodine products are effective antiseptics but may not facilitate a moist wound environment. Whirlpool treatments offer cleaning and debridement but can potentially disrupt fragile newly formed granulation tissue and do not primarily focus on enhancing the wound's natural healing capabilities through moisture retention. Topical agents combined with mechanical debridement primarily focus on removing dead tissue but may not create the ideal conditions for promoting autolysis and angiogenesis within the wound bed.