A 75‑year‑old man dying with advanced lung cancer has a large, weeping lower‑limb fungating tumour. The wound is malodorous and requires frequent

Question

A 75‑year‑old man dying with advanced lung cancer has a large, weeping lower‑limb fungating tumour. The wound is malodorous and requires frequent dressing changes. In the dying phase, which approach to wound care is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Shift focus to comfort: minimise disturbance with fewer dressing changes, use absorbent non‑adherent dressings, and apply topical metronidazole for odour control

Answer

Use iodine‑soaked packings changed three times daily

Answer

Increase dressing changes to every 2 hours to promote healing

Answer

Apply negative‑pressure wound therapy to achieve closure

Answer

Surgically debride the wound to encourage granulation

Wound Care in Dying Phase — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

A 75‑year‑old man dying with advanced lung cancer has a large, weeping lower‑limb fungating tumour. The wound is malodorous and requires frequent dressing changes. In the dying phase, which approach to wound care is most appropriate?