Wound Management By Pulse Lavage

By Teri Farley


Pulse lavage is a kind of mechanical hydrotherapy using saline solution to cleanse or debride wounds. This solution used is pressurized to effectively irrigate and remove wound debris and necrotic tissues. Most of the time, this is used with suction to get rid of the solution used. This procedure is done in a variety of clinical settings for patients with different types of wounds.

Wound cleaning is vital to patient for obvious reasons. Wounds need to be managed properly in order for the patient to start healing. Risk for infection can also be reduced if there is proper management. Bacteria and necrotic tissues must be removed effectively to pave way for healing to occur. Open wounds can then start healing until the patient recovers fully.

The purpose of this method is to help granulation tissues grow. For this to take place, debris found on the wound should be eliminated without causing harm to normal underlying tissues. The suction also produces negative pressure which stimulates granulation tissues. Trained practitioners are the ones to perform the procedure using specialized instruments.

When performing the procedure, the force or pressure applied may be adjusted depending on the amount of necrotic tissue that has to be removed. Adjustments can be made through the instrument used for the lavage. Practitioners in charge of the procedure should know if the patient feels any pain before, during, or after the procedure to make adjustments as necessary.

In the event that the patient has pain, analgesics can also be administered. Prior to the procedure, application of topical analgesic solution may be necessary as well. Patients who are likely to experience pain during the process can be given pain medications half an hour before the procedure. If there are signs of infection, antibiotics can also be added.

In addition, the saline solution used should be warmed to speed up the healing process. The wound bed cools physiologically and this may slow down healing. This effect can be countered by warming the saline solution prior to application. Once the procedure is completed, patients will be able to heal better with their wound free from necrotic tissue, organisms, and debris.

This method also costs less in comparison to other procedures. It is for this practical reason that the procedure is used in numerous clinical settings. This is typically performed in hospitals as part of bedside care, small clinics, long term care centers, and outpatient departments. Patients who require wound care on a daily or weekly basis can be treated.

Since this procedure is done numerous times for different patients, devices are now designed specifically for this purpose. There are many precision instruments available today intended for wound cleaning. These tools can remove bacteria, necrotic tissue, and foreign materials effectively. Although these are primarily used for wound care, these are also used during orthopedic surgeries to debride bone surfaces.

Healing is of utmost importance for any patient with a condition. When dealing with wounds, one significant procedure is pulse lavage which helps promote better healing. Patients would require effective methods that would manage their condition. With experienced practitioners performing this procedure, this can be done correctly thereby allowing faster recovery of the patient.




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