Chronic wounds are at times quite difficult to manage especially if there is a lot of dead tissue. Wound debridement is the process through which this dead tissue is removed. In some cases, there may be a need to remove foreign materials such as wood, glass and metal. The number of sessions varies depending on the amount of tissue to be removed. We will look at the benefits of this procedure and the methods that can be used.
The benefits associated with this process are numerous. Among them is the fact that the healing process is significantly expedited. Dead tissues have been known to harbor microorganisms which in turn causes persistent infections. They also form pockets of pus that are difficult to penetrate using antibiotics. Without proper intervention they will be characterized by constant odor.
Different types of methods can be used either singly or as a combination. Commonly performed types include surgical (sharp) debridement, enzymatic (chemical), autolytic, mechanical and biosurgery. Factors that will determine the choice include, for instance, the type of wound involved, its position, the risk of infection and the expected level of pain.
The surgical technique has been in existence for a fairly long period of time. It is associated with the quickest results. Unfortunately, it causes considerable pain, blood loss and damage to normal tissues. Apart from the removal of necrotic tissue, this method also leads to the release of cytokines and growth factors that may contribute to the healing process. Pressure dressing helps minimize excessive bleeding and local anesthesia is usually administered for the pain.
The autolytic tissue removal procedure is a natural process that relies on the natural enzymes of the body that are released by white blood cells. The enzymes target abnormal tissues and space the viable ones. They include elastase, acid hydrolase, collagenase and myeloperoxidase to mention but a few. The main disadvantage is that these enzymes act very slowly.
Chemical (enzymatic) debridement has many similarities with the autolytic process. The major difference is that the enzymes that are used here are artificial. Examples include paparin, trypsin, collagenase and streptokinase among others. Many, if not all of these enzymes are available commercially. Of all the options available, the collagenase option is the most effective and the most commonly used.
Biosurgery (also termed myiasis) is a biological debridement method that uses fly maggots. The maggots are bred in a sterile environment before being introduced to the wound. They selectively destroy the dead tissue and spare the normal areas. Other mechanisms are believed to be involved as well. For instance, they are said to kill and ingest bacteria as well by producing a number of enzymes. They also increase the PH of the area as well as oxygenation both of which favor healing.
Debriding wounds is an important process that expedites healing. The decision as to whether or not this procedure is necessary is made based on a number of factors that include the size, type and location of the wound and the severity of the infection. These factors are also used in choosing the exact type of debridement that will be used in a given case.
The benefits associated with this process are numerous. Among them is the fact that the healing process is significantly expedited. Dead tissues have been known to harbor microorganisms which in turn causes persistent infections. They also form pockets of pus that are difficult to penetrate using antibiotics. Without proper intervention they will be characterized by constant odor.
Different types of methods can be used either singly or as a combination. Commonly performed types include surgical (sharp) debridement, enzymatic (chemical), autolytic, mechanical and biosurgery. Factors that will determine the choice include, for instance, the type of wound involved, its position, the risk of infection and the expected level of pain.
The surgical technique has been in existence for a fairly long period of time. It is associated with the quickest results. Unfortunately, it causes considerable pain, blood loss and damage to normal tissues. Apart from the removal of necrotic tissue, this method also leads to the release of cytokines and growth factors that may contribute to the healing process. Pressure dressing helps minimize excessive bleeding and local anesthesia is usually administered for the pain.
The autolytic tissue removal procedure is a natural process that relies on the natural enzymes of the body that are released by white blood cells. The enzymes target abnormal tissues and space the viable ones. They include elastase, acid hydrolase, collagenase and myeloperoxidase to mention but a few. The main disadvantage is that these enzymes act very slowly.
Chemical (enzymatic) debridement has many similarities with the autolytic process. The major difference is that the enzymes that are used here are artificial. Examples include paparin, trypsin, collagenase and streptokinase among others. Many, if not all of these enzymes are available commercially. Of all the options available, the collagenase option is the most effective and the most commonly used.
Biosurgery (also termed myiasis) is a biological debridement method that uses fly maggots. The maggots are bred in a sterile environment before being introduced to the wound. They selectively destroy the dead tissue and spare the normal areas. Other mechanisms are believed to be involved as well. For instance, they are said to kill and ingest bacteria as well by producing a number of enzymes. They also increase the PH of the area as well as oxygenation both of which favor healing.
Debriding wounds is an important process that expedites healing. The decision as to whether or not this procedure is necessary is made based on a number of factors that include the size, type and location of the wound and the severity of the infection. These factors are also used in choosing the exact type of debridement that will be used in a given case.
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