What is Bed Sores (Pressure Sores)?
Your doctor will look closely at the skin to determine if it is a bed sores and how bad it is. He will try to classify the level of your wound to a certain stage. Determining the stage of the wound will help you apply the best treatment for you. They may also require a blood test to assess your overall health.
Possible questions the doctor may ask:
When did bed sores first appear?
What is the degree of pain?
Have you ever experienced bed sores before?
What kind of care is being implemented now?
How often do you change positions?
Which diagnosis was made medically and what is the current treatment?
What is your daily diet, diet and fluid intake?
Wound care and pressure sores should be given by wound care trained specialist medical staff and physicians who are experts in their field. Please note that in adverse situations, incorrect treatments may be performed that will adversely affect the patient's limb and life.
What are the symptoms of pressure sores?
There are varying stages depending on the severity of pressure sores. Patients with wheelchairs have a higher risk of developing pressure sores:
- Buttocks, coccyx
-Spine
-Scapula
- Leg behind the arms
Pressure sores or bed sores are divided into four phases:
Image of bed sores or pressure sores. Photo Source: www.uh.edu
First stage: The skin appears red and warm to the touch. It may be itchy.
Second stage: Colorless painful open wounds or blisters can be seen.
Third stage: Crater-like appearance may occur due to tissue damage under the skin surface.
Fourth stage: Serious skin infection is likely. Muscles, bones and even tendons can be seen.
An infection-wound takes much longer to heal and can spread to different parts of the body.
Bed Wound Treatment
Treatment of bed sores involves relieving pressure on the affected area of the skin, thinning wounds, providing pain control, preventing infection, and good nutrition.
Necessary Team for Treatment
Wound care treatment usually requires a highly disciplined approach:
A physician supervising the treatment process and plan
A home care doctor or home care nurse specializing in wound care
Nurses or medical assistants providing care support to manage wounds
A physical therapist who can help improve mobility
Dietician monitoring your nutritional needs and recommending a good diet
A dermatologist specializing in skin diseases
A neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon or plastic surgeon
Reducing Bed Wound Pressure
The first step in the treatment of a bed wound is to reduce the pressure and friction that cause the wound. Strategies include:
Repositioning
If there is a bed wound, change position frequently, the frequency of changing the patient's position depends on the condition and quality of the surface you are on. If you usually use a wheelchair, try changing the load every 15 minutes and changing the position every hour. If the patient is permanently in bed, change position every two hours.
Using Support Surfaces
Use a special mattress, cushion, and pillow to help lie down or sit down to protect vulnerable skin.
Wound Cleaning and Dressing
Care and treatment for bed sores is related to how deep the wound is. Generally, the process of cleaning and dressing a wound involves:
Cleaning. If the affected skin is not severely damaged, it should be gently cleaned, washed and left dry. Open wounds should be cleaned with water or saline every time you change clothing.
Placing the bandage. The bandage keeps the wound moist and accelerates healing. It also forms a barrier against infection and keeps the wound around dry.
Removing Damaged Tissues. The wounds must be free of damaged, dead or infected tissue for proper healing. A number of methods are required to remove a damaged tissue, for which you should seek help from your doctor.
Wound Care Drugs and Other Interventions
Other medical interventions include:
The use of drugs to control pain. A number of drugs are effective in reducing pain, you should consult your doctor for information about these drugs. Such medications can be of great help before or after wound care.
Drugs fighting infection. Infected wounds that do not respond to other treatments can be treated using some antibiotics.
Choosing a healthy diet and feeding well can accelerate wound healing.
Operation
Surgical operation may be required in cases where the wound does not heal and all other methods do not work.
What is an open wound?
The main complication of open wound is infection risk. You may be at risk of infection if the wound area is dark, dry or deeper
How does the wound heal, what are the stages of wound healing?
The wound healing stages are organized and four processes are followed; hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation. Although the stages of wound healing progress in a significant range, the wounds may regress or progress depending on the patient's internal and external conditions. Four stages of wound healing:
Hemostasis Stage
Hemostasis is the process of wound closure by coagulation. When blood leaks from the body, hemostasis begins, the first step of hemostasis is the restriction of blood flow as a result of narrowing of blood vessels. The platelets then adhere together to close the division in the blood vessel. Finally, coagulation occurs and the platelet-containing plug strengthens with a molecular linker fibers.
Inflammatory Stage
Inflammation is the second stage of wound healing, which begins immediately after the damage that infiltrates the damaged blood vessels, causing regional swelling. Inflammation both controls the bleeding and prevents infection. The leaking fluid allows the cells to heal and repair, and damaged cells, pathogens and bacteria are removed from the wound during the inflammatory phase.
Proliferative Stage
The proliferative stage of wound healing occurs when the wound regenerates with a new tissue consisting of collagen and extracellular matrix. At this stage, the wound narrows when new tissues are formed. In addition, a new blood vessel network must be established in order for the granulation tissue to be healthy and to receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
Maturation Stage
Also called the regeneration phase of wound healing. This stage of maturation results in collagen tissue type 3 to type 1 remodeling and complete closure of the wound. Cells used to repair the wound but no longer needed are removed by apoptosis or programmed cell death.
What is good for the wound?
Good nutrition is essential for healing. During the healing process, increasing amounts of calories, protein, vitamin A and C and sometimes zinc are needed in the body.
Healthy eating goals
Eat a variety of foods to get all the calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals you need. Your body needs a variety of nutrients to effectively heal wounds. What you eat is one of the most important factors that determine how quickly your wound will heal.
What is wound care dressing?
Dressing is used by a doctor, nurse, caregiver and / or patient to help heal the wound, to prevent infection or other complications such as complications. Wound dressings are designed for direct contact with the wound. The dressing serves various purposes depending on the type, severity and location of the wound. In addition to being the most important function of reducing the risk of infection, it helps stop bleeding and coagulate and initiate other healing processes.
Hydrocolloid dressing is used in burns, mild to moderate wounds, necrotic wounds, pressure ulcers and venous ulcers.
The hydrogel dressing is used in extremely painful, liquid and necrotic wounds, pressure ulcers, second-degree or higher burns and infection-containing wounds.
Alginate dressings are used for moderate and high wound drainage, venous ulcers, level 3 or 5 ulcers.
Collagen wound dressing can be used for bed sores, ulcers, chronic wounds, surgical wounds, second or higher burns and large surface wounds.
What are the factors that prevent the healing of the bed sores or pressure sores more quickly?
Dead tissue (necrosis): Dead tissues and impurities affect the healing process.
Infection: Open wounds can develop as a result of a bacterial infection, the body tries to cope with the infection instead of healing the wound.
Bleeding: Permanent bleeding will keep the layers of the wound permanently separate and prevent it from joining.
Mechanical damage: For example, an unstable, bed-bound patient is at risk of constant pressure and friction.
Diet: Choosing foods that are poor in nutritional values can deprive the injured area of nutrients that are effective in healing the wound, such as vitamin C, zinc, and protein.
Medical conditions: Diabetes, anemia and certain vascular diseases that limit blood flow to the area or disorders affecting the immune system may delay wound healing.
Elderly: Bed sores or compression sores may take longer to heal in the elderly.
Drugs: Drugs or treatments used in the treatment of certain medical conditions can affect the healing process of the body.
Smoking: Smoking prevents healing and increases the risk of complications.
Varicose veins: Limited blood circulation and swelling can cause skin disintegration and permanent ulceration.
Dryness: Wounds in contact with air (such as leg ulcers) are less likely to heal. Various cells involved in healing, such as skin cells and immune cells, need a moist environment.
Does the pressure sores or bed sores in contact with air heal faster?
Most parents and nurses have a time-based approach to wound treatment: clean it, stop the bleeding, and then let some air in. As discussed in medical sources, the aim of this approach is to reduce the likelihood of infection and accelerate the healing process. However, as the years progressed, research has shown that many people use this method for minor cuts and injuries. Experts believe that contacting a wound with air is a terrible mistake because it creates a dry environment that leads to cell death.
Several studies have shown that the blood vessels are regenerated more rapidly when the wounds are kept moist and covered, and the number of infection-causing cells decreases more quickly than open wounds. It is best to keep the wound moist and cover it for at least five days.
It is also a common mistake to apply antibacterial ointments, which may cause the wound to remain moist, but may cause swelling and allergic reactions called contact dermatitis. Vaseline, which is administered twice a day, is a very effective solution.
The information on bed sores or pressure sores in this article is not intended to guide people to diagnosis and treatment. Do not carry out all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures without consulting your doctor. Content does not include information on Acıbadem Mobile Health's therapeutic health services.
Acıbadem Mobile Home Care Wound Care Team
Acıbadem Mobile home care team provides wound care to people who cannot come to the hospital or who are not able to go to their homes or where they are. Another task of Acıbadem Mobile home care team and wound care team who perform bed wounds care is to prevent the opening of new wounds by educating the relatives and caregivers of these patients who are mostly bed-dependent.
2AXX
Curad Alcohol Prep Pads , Thick Alcohol Swabs (Pack of 400) - CUR45585RB
