Using Pulse Lavage For Wound Management

By Teri Farley


Pulse lavage is type of mechanical hydrotherapy that makes use of saline solution to debride and clean wounds. The solution is pressurized to irrigate necrotic tissues and wound debris. This is often used along with suction to remove the irrigation solution. In many clinical settings, this procedure is performed in patients with deep wounds to allow successful healing.

Wound cleaning is very important for obvious reasons. These must be properly managed so that the patient can begin with the healing process. Proper management also reduces the risk for infection. Necrotic tissues and bacteria must be removed from the wound bed to make way for the healing process. This way, open wounds can gradually repair and completely heal.

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 this technique, practitioners can adjust the pressure they use depending on the extent of necrotic tissue to be removed. The instrument used may be adjusted to have the right amount of force for the lavage. Those who are performing the procedure should check if pain is felt by the person in order to make adjustments as needed.

If there is pain, administration of analgesic medications would be necessary. Topical analgesic solution can be applied before the procedure to manage pain. The patient may take medications half an our prior to be relieved. If signs of infection begin to show, it is also necessary to administer antibiotics by adding it to the solution used.

In this case, the bag of saline solution should be warmed to help make the healing process faster. Physiologically, the wound bed may cool down which can slow down healing. To counteract this effect, it is advised to warm the saline solution before application. With this procedure done, patients can have better wound healing as the site becomes free of debris, tissue, and organisms.

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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