Using Pulse Lavage For Wound Management

By Teri Farley


Pulse lavage is one method used for cleaning wounds. This is a mechanical hydrotherapy which involves using pressurized saline solution for cleaning and debriding wounds. The solution is used to irrigate wound debris and some necrotic tissues. Most often, suction is used in combination with this to remove the solution used. Many clinical settings practice this method to manage wounded patients.

Wound cleaning is obviously important for many reasons. Any kind of wound should be properly managed to start the healing process sooner. With proper management of the wound, the patient's risk for infection will be reduced. It is very important to remove necrotic tissue and organisms such as bacteria from the wound. This way, the healing process can begin to progress.

The main purpose of the procedure is to aid in the growth of granulation tissues. In order for this to happen, wound debris should be removed without damaging normal underlying tissues. Negative pressure of the suction will also cause stimulation of granulation tissue. Specialized instruments are used to for this procedure and these will be operated by skilled practitioners.

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.

If the patient feels any pain, analgesic medications can be administered to relieve it. Before the procedure, topical analgesic solution can also be applied to the wound. Patients may also be given medications about half an hour to manage the pain. Antibiotics may be added to the saline solution if signs of infection begin to show.

In addition, it is also advised to warm the saline solution to be used. This will help speed the healing process. Due to physiologic processes, the wound bed ay cool down which slows the healing. This concern can be addressed by making the solution warm before it is applied. Once the wound is free from organisms, debris, and necrotic tissue, healing can take place.

This technique costs less unlike other methods. For such reasons, this is used in different clinical settings. Some hospitals practice this as part of their bedside care. This is also applied in long term care settings, small clinics, and outpatient departments. Patients who need wound cleaning daily, weekly, or whenever necessary can be treated by practitioners.

With this procedure often performed nowadays, devices have been made for this exact purpose. Precision instruments are now designed for effective wound cleaning. These tools are used to remove foreign materials, bacteria, and necrotic tissue. While these are primarily intended for wound care, practitioners can also use these during orthopedic operations to debride surface of bones.

Healing is an important process for patients suffering from a condition. As for wounds, pulse lavage is a very significant procedure for proper healing. Any patient would need methods that are effective in managing their condition especially if it concerns deep wounds. With skillful healthcare practitioners, the procedure will be performed correctly thereby promoting faster recovery for the patient.




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