Bed Wound Care and Treatment
Stage I and II bed wounds usually heal within a few weeks and / or a few months with good care of the patient, comprehensive and meticulous care of the wound. Stage III and IV bed wounds are more difficult to heal.
TREATMENT TEAM
Wound Care usually requires a multidisciplinary approach. And members of a wound care team should:
Primary physician supervising the patient's treatment plan
A nurse specializing in wound care
A professional caregiver who will provide long-term care to the patient and share correct information with the family.
A physiotherapist helping to increase mobility
Dietitian observing nutritional needs and planning appropriate diet
Plastic surgeon in cases requiring surgery
PRESSURE REDUCTION
The first step in the treatment of bed sores relieves pressure in the area that is in constant contact with the bed. Strategies are as follows;
Positioning: If there is a bed wound, the patient should be given the correct positions regularly. If the patient is using a wheelchair, 15 min. one weight should be given to the other side, and the position should be changed every hour. If it is an inpatient, its position should be changed every two hours.
When positioning the patient, ask for support within the capacity of the patient. Caregivers can use intermediate sheets to lift and position the patient. Thus, friction and skin damage can be reduced.
Use of Supporting Materials: Special cushions and pads should be used in order to position the patient in the appropriate position, to position and to protect the wound and skin from pressure. If you are in a wheelchair, you can use foam, air and water cushions as buffers
CLEANING AND COVERING WOUND
The maintenance model that helps recovery should include;
Cleaning: To prevent injection, keeping the wound clean is essential. If skin integrity is not impaired (Grade I), gently wash the skin with a little soap and water and dry with a pad. Clean the wound with saline each time you change the dressing.
Closing the Wound: Closing the wound creates a barrier against infection by keeping the wound moist and keeps the surrounding tissue dry, thereby accelerating wound healing. Wound closure options can be gauzes, gels, wound films, barrier creams. The combination of these materials can also be used for wound dressing.
Your doctor chooses a wound closure material, taking into account many such variables, depending on the size and severity of the wound, the discharge, and the ease of insertion and removal of the material used.
REMOVAL OF DAMAGED TISSUE (WOUND DISPOSAL)
For proper healing, the wounds need to be recovered from damaged, dead and infected tissues. wound debridement is performed by applying different methods according to the general condition of the patient, the aims of the treatment and the severity of the wound.
Surgical Debridement: Removal of dead tissues
Mechanical Debridement: Loosens and removes wound debris. This can be done with pressure irrigation devices, low frequency ultrasound or special dressing materials.
Autolytic Debridement: The body's natural functioning is done using the ability of enzymes to destroy dead tissue. This method is used for uninfected and small wounds.
Enzymatic Debridement: It is made with the use of chemical enzymes and selection of suitable wound closure materials that destroy the dead tissue.
OTHER INTERVENTIONS
Other interventions that may be applied;
Pain Management: Bed sores can be painful. Ibuprofen or naproxen etc. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as lonsiteroid may reduce pain. These drugs can be very useful in debridement and dressing changes. It can also be used in pain relief creams for these procedures.
Antibiotics: Infected wounds, antibiotics taken by oral or cream support the treatment.
A Healthy Diet: To accelerate wound healing, your doctor may recommend a high-protein diet that increases calorie and fluid support rich in vitamins and minerals. It is recommended that the patient take supplementary foods containing vitamin C and zinc.
Urinary and Fecal Incontinence (Incontinence): Bladder and intestine incontinence problems caused by bacteria and excessive moisture in the skin causing bacteria to increase the risk of infection. Fighting incontinence accelerates wound healing. Strategies to assist the patient in urination, frequent diaper replacement, use of protective lotions on healthy skin and the use of a urinary catheter are some of the strategies.
Elimination of Muscle Spasm: Friction and injury due to spasm causes worsening of bed sores. In these cases muscle relaxants are useful.
Negative Pressure Therapy (Vacuum Assisted Closure - VAC Application): This treatment uses a device that applies negative pressure (suction function) to the clean wound. It accelerates healing in the treatment of pressure sores.
SURGICAL
Surgical procedures (surgery) may be necessary for the bed wounds that cannot be healed. The aim of surgical applications is to improve the hygiene and appearance of the wound, to protect and treat the infection, to reduce fluid loss from the wound and to reduce the risk of cancer.
If surgical intervention is required, the procedure to be performed is determined by the site of the wound and the presence of scar tissue. In general, many bed sores are covered using muscle, skin, and other tissues to buffer the underlying bone.
You can ask our certified wound care nurse to visit you for bed wound treatments.
18AXX
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