Wounds come about upon physical injury which could occur in many ways. Among the common ways that people sustain wounds is through motor vehicle accidents and gun shot injuries. Severe soft tissue injury can also be as a result of burns. Wound irrigation is one of the initial steps that are undertaken in the treatment process. It is important that this is done judiciously to ensure that they heal in the best way possible.
A good irrigating solution is one that is not expensive. The solution should also be clear to make sure that tissues can be seen. This makes it easier to differentiate between normal and dead tissue. Normal saline is usually the agent of choice because it does not contain any toxic products. As a matter of fact, all it has is sodium and chloride whose concentration can be equated to that in the body. The only setback could be the fact that it has no antibiotic properties whatsoever. Other agents available in the market include sodium hypochlorite, iodine and sterile water.
Some of instruments necessary for effective debridement include syringes, pressurized canisters and ampules among others. There are two main types of syringes involved in pressure debridement; piston and bulb. Canisters are preferable because they have good pressures. Moreover, there price is fair and are very easy to use.
Irrigation can be said to either be continuous or pulsed. Pulsed irrigation is done with periods of rest, perhaps to confirm whether the wound has been fully cleansed. Studies, however, reveal that the outcome is the same, regardless of what method has been used. Pressure during cleaning ensures that all the debris has been done away with.
Given the high pressures, there are very high chances that one may get spurt on by debris and dirty liquid. One should adorn themselves with a face mask and goggles to protect the facial region which has the highest likelihood of being splashed on given that it is directly exposed to the field of the procedure. Not only does the splash have the risk of causing infection but it is also possible that it may corrode normal tissues if the solution used is highly concentrated.
Apart from controlling active bleeding of tissues, unclean wounds need to be irrigated to ensure they heal rapidly. Irrigating tissues that are still bleeding can result in fatal complications. Clots tend to form very rapidly and can easily be transmitted elsewhere in the body. A clot lodged in the lungs is dangerous because the affected person can develop respiratory distress.
Anesthesia is key before this procedure is started to ensure that the patient is not exposed to too much pain. Whether the anesthesia will be localized or general depends on how extensive the wound is. For minor injuries, local anesthesia is enough. Also, before settling on what solution to use for cleansing, there is a need to rule out any allergies that the patient may have.
In a nutshell, thorough irrigation is paramount to ensuring that wounds do not complicate. It also ensures that the injured tissues are renewed and the patient can be able to live a normal life again. It may be necessary to write down all the steps taken during cleansing to be used as reference during subsequent care of the wound. This includes indicating the kind of irrigant used, how much volume of it was irrigated and under what pressures.
A good irrigating solution is one that is not expensive. The solution should also be clear to make sure that tissues can be seen. This makes it easier to differentiate between normal and dead tissue. Normal saline is usually the agent of choice because it does not contain any toxic products. As a matter of fact, all it has is sodium and chloride whose concentration can be equated to that in the body. The only setback could be the fact that it has no antibiotic properties whatsoever. Other agents available in the market include sodium hypochlorite, iodine and sterile water.
Some of instruments necessary for effective debridement include syringes, pressurized canisters and ampules among others. There are two main types of syringes involved in pressure debridement; piston and bulb. Canisters are preferable because they have good pressures. Moreover, there price is fair and are very easy to use.
Irrigation can be said to either be continuous or pulsed. Pulsed irrigation is done with periods of rest, perhaps to confirm whether the wound has been fully cleansed. Studies, however, reveal that the outcome is the same, regardless of what method has been used. Pressure during cleaning ensures that all the debris has been done away with.
Given the high pressures, there are very high chances that one may get spurt on by debris and dirty liquid. One should adorn themselves with a face mask and goggles to protect the facial region which has the highest likelihood of being splashed on given that it is directly exposed to the field of the procedure. Not only does the splash have the risk of causing infection but it is also possible that it may corrode normal tissues if the solution used is highly concentrated.
Apart from controlling active bleeding of tissues, unclean wounds need to be irrigated to ensure they heal rapidly. Irrigating tissues that are still bleeding can result in fatal complications. Clots tend to form very rapidly and can easily be transmitted elsewhere in the body. A clot lodged in the lungs is dangerous because the affected person can develop respiratory distress.
Anesthesia is key before this procedure is started to ensure that the patient is not exposed to too much pain. Whether the anesthesia will be localized or general depends on how extensive the wound is. For minor injuries, local anesthesia is enough. Also, before settling on what solution to use for cleansing, there is a need to rule out any allergies that the patient may have.
In a nutshell, thorough irrigation is paramount to ensuring that wounds do not complicate. It also ensures that the injured tissues are renewed and the patient can be able to live a normal life again. It may be necessary to write down all the steps taken during cleansing to be used as reference during subsequent care of the wound. This includes indicating the kind of irrigant used, how much volume of it was irrigated and under what pressures.
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