Debridement and Dressings Flashcards
What is the ultimate goal of wound management
Full wound closure!
What are the most effective methods for controlling wound colonization? (2)
Debridement and irrigation
What is the interim step of wound management?
Obtain a clean, moist, warm, granular wound bed while protecting the periwound and intact skin
How do you maintain moisture balance?
Primarily through dressings
Is necrotic tissue a medium for bacterial growth?
Yes. It is also a barrier to wound contraction, granulation, and re-epithelialization
What is the rating (0-4) for a palpable pulse?
2+. User doppler, MRA, or angiogram if you have to. Listen for type of sound too
What meds must you find out if the patient is on before debridement?
Anticoauglants
Also check if infection is present?
Should you debride if non-viable tissue is present?
Yes, if slough or eschar is noted. Do not if it is all healthy tissue
Should you debride a dry, stable, uninfected would in the heel?
No
What do you ask yourself after determining the wound is in another location other than the heel?
Is sharp debridement appropriate?
If sharp debridement is NOT indicated, then what 2 questions must you ask yourself?
Is the wound infected?
Is the wound covered completely (100%) by non-viable tissue?
What debridement do you do if the wound is infected?
You do enzymatic debidement (autolytic debridement is CONTRAINDIATED!) *if it is not infected, then you can do autolytic
What debridement do you do if the wound covered completely (100%) by non-viable tissue??
Mechanical debridement is OK. If there is viable tissue present, consider ezymatic (infected) or autolytic (non-infected)
When can you NOT use enzymatic debridement?
If deeper tissues are exposed (bone, ligament, tissue)
What are the 7 contraindications to sharp debridement? (others Kathy Leahy listed in a separate slide are also listed)
Cannot visualize wound bed (tunneling, undermining, etc) Uninfected ischemic ulcers Connective / structural tissues Patient has poor tolerance (pain, agitation) Patient is taking anticoagulants Too much risk to viable tissue Practitioner not competent/not skilled in sharp debridement, or not allowed to perform by law --- Ischmeic tissue Wound bed not visible (tunneling) Deeper tissue Surgical debridement imminent Electrical burns (Sue Reeder) Protective eschar Pyogderma gangenosum - body attacks itself; looks life ulcer;treat w/steroids Confusion, agitation Precaution:anticoagulation meds Precaution:Low platelet counts
Should wounds get bigger before they get better?
Yes, they may still get bigger even after you treat it. Must document wound size progression to get reimbursed. But bleeding in sharp debridement should me minimal; it’s dead.
What is sharp debridement appropriate for?
Appropriate for wounds with eschar, loose slough, or adherent fibrin. Speed is an advantage, but anything sharp may cause damage to unintended structures
What instruments are used in sharp debridement?
Foreceps
Scissors
Scalpels
Curette - ice cream scoop
What might Pyoderma Gangrenosum be confused with?
Venous leg ulcer
1 in 100000
pts in 40s and 50s
What is the most selective form of debridement?
Autolytic
How does autolytic debridement work?
Uses body’s own enzymes to digest necrotic tissue (enzymes released by macrophages and neutrophils)
Use of moisture retentive dressing
How long does dressing cover wound bed in autolytic debridement? What are 3 examples?
SEVERAL DAYS! Examples include: Hydrogel sheets, hydrocolloids, transparent films (tegaderm (use over IV site) is most transparent and duoderm is least transparent)
What is the minimum amount of time to keep a hydrocolloid on?
3 days minimum for hydrocolloids
What takes longer, sharp debridement or autolytic?
Autolytic. 6 days longer than sharp
When is autolytic debridement contraindicated?
If wound is infected or covered with dry gangrene
use enzymatic if infected
What is the most clinically supported topical agent for debridement? (will be on test and NPTE per Kathy Leahy)
Enzymatic debridement (requires physician level script)
What are types of topical agents for enzymatic debridement?
Collagenase: digest necrotic collagen / deeper (e.g. Santyl)
Protease: digest protein tissue / superficial (will not harm live protein, only denatured ones)
Fibrinolysins: digest fibrin containing clots
Should you do enzymatic debridement for draining wounds?
No, it will wash right off.
How do you apply ezymatic debridement?
Prepare wound bed first, then apply exogenous enzymes
USE TO PRODUCT SPECIFICATION and discontinue when wound is clean with red granulation tissue
What does cross-hatching do during enzymatic debridement?
Gaps in eschar allow ointment to soak into surface
What is maggot therapy?
“Very graphic.” -Kathy Leahy, September 30, 2015
What is the benefit to wet-to-dry gauze dressings?
Inexpensive, but not favored
How does Soft debridement/Wound scrubbing work?
Semi-selective removal of moist, non-adherent necrotic tissue
What is used for Soft debridement/Wound scrubbing?
Gauze sponge or calcium alginate-tipped swab
When is Soft debridement/Wound scrubbing contraindicated?
For adherent, dry necrotic tissue
What type of solution do you use for syringe irrigation (hydrotherapy)?
Saline or tap water
What PSI do you use for irrigation?
4-15 psi is appropriate but 10-15 psi is most effective
When is irrigation contraindicated?
Only for wounds with profuse bleeding
What equipment can be used for irrigation? (3)
Syringe w/ needle
Canyons Wound Irrigation System (syringe system w/o needle)
Pulsed Lavage with or without suction
What is the most common type of hydrotherapy used in wound care?
Pulsed Lavage WITH suction
On what wounds can you use Pulsed Lavage with Suction?
Any type of wound (but can burst blood vessels). Shown to promote formation of granulation tissue
It is very versatile and like why it is the most common type of hydrotherapy used in wound care. Good for those with MRSA
Can you use Pulsed Lavage with Suction for tunneling?
Yes. It also provides non-selective debridement as well as cleansing and irrigation
Does Pulsed Lavage with Suction promote granulation tissue formation?
Yes, as mentioned earlier.