Pulse Lavage Is An Effective Wound Care Treatment

By Paulette Short


Proper cleansing and debridement of an open wound is a vital part of wound care management. It facilitates the healing process, and prevents infections from occurring due to bacteria and other foreign bodies that may use the wound as a portal of entry. Research has been conducted on a method of debridement referred to as pulse lavage, where the wound is cleaned with water, unlike traditional methods that require keeping the area dry.

Wounds can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a person who is immobile or in a nursing home may develop bedsores because he or she is unable to rise from bed to ambulate and complete other activities. Other wounds may be caused by burns, cuts, or any number of other unfortunate incidents.

Pulse lavage is a phrase used to describe irrigating wounds through the delivery of a water-based solution. This is generally completed under a particular amount of pressure, and an electric device is typically utilized to transport the irrigation fluid. During the procedure, simultaneous pressure is applied to the area, and then the irrigation solution is suctioned from the wound. This technique eliminates debris and potentially infectious substances and eradicates them from the surface of the wound.

Additionally, irrigation and suction can be delivered to the area simultaneously. During this procedure, the water irrigates one section of the wound while the other area is being suction. However, it may be challenging to implement this technique on wounds that feature a narrow circumference.

This technique has come to be known by various names, including jet, mechanical, and pulsatile lavage. It is also frequently referred to as "high-pressure irrigation". All the aforementioned phrases essentially refer to the same method. Plain water may be used as a solution for the irrigation, or other substances may be added as determined by a wound care specialist, general doctor, or surgeon.

This type of cleansing method is used by military healthcare professionals as well. Cleaning and debriding contaminated wounds sustained in combat with high-pressure irrigation was determined to be very effective for patients with such injuries. It was during the 1960s that this type of technique was initially used, when it was first completed on military patients and then performed on civilians. Although its effectiveness and safety are still being researched, it is now a universally accepted technique.

This technique is associated with different irrigation pressure levels. Some clinical researchers claim that only low-pressure should be applied when irrigating a wound, while other state that high-pressure irrigation is not any more dangerous than the aforementioned pressure. The level of pressure used will depend on the severity of the wound, as well as the advice of the patient's attending physician. In addition, research has indicated that the tissue surrounding the injury will be protected from foreign bodies, such as bacteria, following pressurized irrigation.

Most professionals agree that this technique will be used on numerous patients for many years in the future. Additional research is currently underway in order to further perfect this method. Those afflicted with wounds should consider speaking to a medical doctor or other professional about pulse lavage.




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