Modifying perfusion, nutrition, and stress to promote wound healing in patients with acute wounds

Tissue injury is common among patients in acute care settings. The subseque nt response to injury, wound healing, follows an intricate but well-defined sequence that, under normal conditions, proceeds to satisfactory repair. H owever, because of the complexity of the healing response, several factors can intervene to impair normal healing. As a better understanding of how di verse factors influence healing is gained, the use of interventions that mo dulate these factors becomes possible and potentially beneficial. This arti cle reviews knowledge of perfusion, nutrition, and stress as they relate to healing in patients experiencing acute wounds. Therapeutic implications ba sed on current research are discussed.