Both conditions result in dead space, open areas beneath the skin that can lead to further tissue destruction and infection. When describing sinus tract formation, include the direction of the tract. Healthy tissue consists of granulation tissue, which has a red, moist, beefy appearance, and epithelialized tissue - new pink, shiny epidermis. Necrotic tissue is avascular and is described as either slough or eschar tissue. Slough appears in an array of yellow, grey, green, and brown colors.
Eschar is a hard, black, leathery tissue.
Assess the exudate for volume, color, consistency, and odor. Volume of exudate is described as scant, small, moderate, or copious, and includes the number of dressings soaked with drainage. Consistent documentation allows nurses to monitor trends in wound drainage. Odor, color, and consistency of exudate can alert the nurse to the presence or absence of wound infection. The condition of periwound skin, the area surrounding the wound opening, provides further information concerning the patient's health status, the efficacy of a dressing's absorption of exudate, and the presence of local infection.