What is the treatment of bedsores depending on the stages?

Tissue malnutrition is accompanied by the formation of necrotic ulcers. More often this happens in bedridden patients and is popularly called bedsores. However, ulcers can form under any pressure on tissues from the outside (places of bone protrusions, impaired tissue innervation as a result of spinal cord injuries). Continuous pressure, friction, shear force and moisture are considered to be the main factors in the occurrence of pressure sores. It has been established that pressure of about 70 mm Hg for 2 hours contributes to the development of irreversible changes in tissues. If the pressure is removed every 5 minutes, this causes minimal changes without consequences. Learn about the treatment of pressure ulcers at different stages.

What is the treatment for pressure sores at the initial stage?

In the first stage of development of bedsores, patients need to turn over to the other side every 2 hours. At this time, it is important to prevent the development of infection in the wound, as well as to stop further exposure to damaging factors. Since changing the position of the body in hospitals is impossible due to the workload of the medical staff, the means aimed at reducing the force of pressure, ensuring its discontinuity, have become widely used. These are special beds, plastic splints, mattresses, pads, pillows that are filled with water, foam, air, gel, or a combination of these materials.

Pressure-controlled systems provide discontinuity in the pressure factor, which helps to reduce local pressure on the skin. Topical treatment consists of regular and thorough skin care.

In the past, pressure sore treatments were used, but as it turned out later, ion-exchange drugs act in a damaging way on cell membranes. What local treatment for bedsores, read further on estet-portal.com. To protect the inflamed areas of the skin from bacteria, polyurethane film dressings are applied, which provide access of oxygen from the atmosphere to the ulcer, and also contribute to the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the bedsore. The small pores of such a dressing do not allow bacteria to enter the ulcer, the transparency of the dressing makes it possible to control the condition of the skin.

Aspects of treatment of pressure ulcers in the second stage of the process

At the 2nd stage, the treatment of bedsores is limited to the toilet of the wound in a dressing room. The procedure is performed with the removal of the epidermis in places where blisters form, as well as general impurities.

For healing superficial skin lesions, it is effective to use:

• adhesive transparent film dressings;
• waffle hydrogel and hydrocolloid dressings;
• semi-permeable foam dressings;

The development of bacterial processes in the wound is an indication for antibiotic therapy and more frequent dressing changes.

What should be the treatment for pressure sores in stage 3?

At the 3rd stage, necrotic lesions spread in depth with the involvement of the entire subcutaneous tissue up to the fascia. The bedsore looks like a dark crater with edematous and hyperemic edges, which is a consequence of coagulation processes.

The goal of treating pressure ulcers in the third stage is to surgically remove necrotic tissue, as well as to cleanse the pressure ulcer from the remnants of necrosis and purulent exudate.

It is important to absorb the discharge and keep the healing wound from drying out. Further treatment of bedsores is the use of local antiseptics.

In addition to antibacterial drugs for local treatment of bedsores, the following are used:

• means that improve microcirculation – tribenoside, pyricarbate;
• dehydrating – hyperosmolar preparations;
• necrolytic preparations – deoxyribonuclease, collagenase, chymotrypsin, trypsin, terrilitin;
• anti-inflammatory drugs – prednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone;
• stimulators of reparative processes – vinylin, methyluracil, Kalanchoe ointment.

The use of water-soluble ointments is effective, because they provide a pronounced dehydration effect and positively affect the healing process and treatment of pressure sores.