Wound Care Certification Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

The presence of eschar in a wound bed can indeed lead to hypoxia, which is a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues. Eschar is a dry, necrotic tissue that forms as a result of tissue death, often due to prolonged pressure, ischemia, or infection. This layer of dead tissue can create a barrier that impedes the influx of oxygen and nutrients essential for effective wound healing. As oxygen is crucial for cellular metabolism and the functioning of various growth factors, hypoxia may worsen the healing process by hindering the ability of the body to repair damaged tissue.

Moreover, hypoxic conditions can inhibit the activity of certain cells involved in healing, such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes, which play vital roles in tissue repair and regeneration. In this sense, eschar can compromise the environment necessary for healing, making it more difficult for the wound to progress through the normal stages of healing.

While the remaining options mention potential benefits to the healing process, eschar fundamentally alters the wound environment in a way that limits oxygen availability, thus leading to healing complications rather than promoting recovery.