Such a procedure as wound dressing should be treated responsibly, because the fate of the damage will depend on it. Improper handling entails serious consequences. Particular attention is paid to dressing a purulent wound with inflammation. There are general rules and algorithms of actions that should be followed in order to prevent infection.
The essence and feature of a purulent wound
Any damage to the skin can lead to suppuration. It all depends on the nature of the damage and its depth. If a foreign body or frozen blood remains in the tissues of the dermis, then the likelihood of an inflammatory process is very high. In order for pus to form, a critical number of bacteria is required (100,000 bodies per 1 g of epithelium). It is believed that the treatment of purulent wounds should be carried out only by an experienced surgeon. Due to the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, recovery is rather slow. Therefore, it is extremely important to prevent infection of the wound and treat it in time.
Treatment principles
The wound process occurs in response to the introduction of any infection or further damage to the tissue. It goes through several stages:
- The inflammatory phase is characterized by a change in vascular permeability, as well as white blood cell migration. Collagen swelling and swelling occur.
- In the regeneration phase, connective tissue forms with the formed capillaries.
- At the final stage, dense scar tissue is created from collagen.
A distinctive feature of a purulent wound is that tissue necrosis and absorption of toxins occur during the first inflammatory phase. The main objectives of the treatment are:
- The fight against harmful microorganisms.
- Removal of dead tissue and pus.
- Elimination of edema.
There are some factors that contribute to the occurrence of a wound process. These include diabetes, old age and overweight. According to doctors, the wounds located in the head, neck and chest area heal most quickly. The treatment of injuries located on the feet, calves, and arms is much worse.
In diabetics, even small wounds can develop into purulent ones, and the most minor infection leads to an extensive inflammatory process.
How to identify a purulent wound
There are general symptoms by which you can find out if there is pus in the wound. Doctors distinguish the following symptoms:
- Swelling and redness.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Dizziness and weakness.
- When pressed, acute pain appears.
- Hot skin around the wound.
Sometimes the sore spot acquires a blue tint, and the pain becomes pulsating. Swelling of the connective tissue occurs due to compression of the lymph nodes.
When passing the general tests, the patient is found in the blood protein and white blood cells. Also, ESR is accelerated and the level of bilirubin with urea rises.
What is pus
It is a liquid that contains bacteria, albumin, cholesterol, fats, and dead white blood cells. Depending on the type of pathogen, pus is white, green or yellow:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa turns it yellow. When dressing, a purulent liquid comes into contact with oxygen and a blue tint appears.
- Anaerobic microbes give a brown color and an unpleasant odor.
- The same brown shade happens from E. coli.
- Streptococcus stains the liquid in green, and staphylococcus in white.
Sometimes the wound may give off the smell of rotting meat or decaying urine. This indicates a large spread of putrefactive flora.
The principles of dressing purulent wounds
This procedure includes a whole range of activities:
- inspection
- drug treatment
- fistulography,
- sounding
- fetoscopy.
For the first time, dressing is carried out immediately after applying the wound. Subsequently, the procedure takes place in the doctor’s office using surgical instruments. Bandages are fixed with bandages or use a special scarf for this purpose. Cotton and gauze swabs are used for processing. Antiseptic agents are necessarily used to prevent infection. The specificity of dressing ordinary and purulent wounds is known to every surgeon.
Postoperative suture treatment is performed on the second day. On examination, their condition, the presence of hematoma and suppuration are determined. If everything is in order with the seams, then the second procedure occurs on the eighth day, before the removal of the seams.
If the dressing is wet or pus has formed, then the wound can be treated earlier. In this case, it has to be bandaged daily. Fistulas are especially difficult.
Purulent wound dressing tools
Before starting the procedure, pick up the tools. They must be sterile and on a clean surface. For instrumental dressing of a purulent wound you will need:
- Hemostatic clamps.
- A set of hooks.
- Two types of scalpel. One of them is abdominal, and the other is spiky.
- Surgical and anatomical tweezers.
- Needles with needle holders.
- Syringes with a capacity of 2, 5 and 10 cubes.
As well as a large number of napkins, cotton swabs, hydrogen peroxide and iodine.
In addition to tools, you will need soap, sterile gloves and sleeves for dressing a purulent wound. The procedure is described below.
Sequencing
All actions take place according to a certain pattern. First remove the previous dressing and wash the area around the wound. Then they inspect the site of damage and treat it with antiseptic agents. After a second examination, all necessary medical procedures are performed. The dressing of the purulent wound is completed with the third, that is, the last skin toilet. Already at the end impose a new bandage. The technique for dressing a purulent wound is as follows:
- During the initial treatment, the remains of blood and pus are removed, and also, if necessary, the hair is shaved. All procedures are done with a cotton swab dipped in ethyl alcohol, iodonate solution or ether. In order not to stain the table or clothes, lay an oilcloth.
- Inspection of the affected area is extremely important. Dirty green spots indicate that the dermis was saturated with hemolysis products. With anaerobic infection, dryness and necrotic tissue occur. If the muscles twitch when touched, then this indicates the presence of tetanus. Also in favor of this diagnosis is sweating and a strange position of the limb. With any suspicion of the presence of pathogenic microbes, they take material for research.
- Next, the wound is washed with hydrogen peroxide, using a syringe for convenience. As it dries, the dead skin, bone and other foreign bodies are removed. Sometimes removal of seams and their repeated imposing is required. To enhance the outflow of dead cells using solutions of sodium chloride and magnesium sulfate.
- In the next stage, dry and ointment dressings are already applied. The most effective ointments with fat content (synthomycin, Vishnevsky and others).
- After 5-7 days, a scar forms and primary tension of the skin tissue occurs.
Dressing of both clean and purulent wounds is preferably carried out under local anesthesia. As the patient recovers, sleep and appetite improve, edema passes and body temperature stabilizes.
Coarse, extensive scars often need aesthetic correction. You should resort to the services of a plastic surgeon no earlier than 2 months after the formation of scars.
Home processing
Of the medicines, the most commonly used is Levomekol ointment. It not only has antimicrobial properties, but also perfectly heals the surface of the skin. Inflammatory processes and suppuration on the fingers and toes are perfectly treated with a salt solution. To do this, one tablespoon is stirred in a glass of warm water and dip your finger. Salt has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. She perfectly disinfects and draws out pus.
Home treatment usually includes the following steps:
- Rinse the wound under the tap with running water and remove pus with cotton swabs dipped in peroxide.
- Application of antiseptic agents. It can be antibiotics Baneocin, Neosporin or Fucidin, antiseptic solutions Iodopyron, Povidone or Geksikon, as well as creams containing silver: Dermazin or Argedin.
- The wound is covered with napkins and bandaged.
At home, only superficial injuries can be treated with full confidence that the wound does not contain pathogens.
Folk remedies
If a shallow wound festering, then it can be treated at home. Sometimes for this purpose they use traditional medicine:
- Sea buckthorn oil and aloe juice are mixed in equal proportions. This composition can replace the antiseptic ointment at the stage of scarring.
- The skin is washed with a strong decoction of chamomile or calendula. Also suitable are the inflorescences of yarrow, St. John's wort and calamus root.
- Honey also has antiseptic properties. With a weak solution of honey, you can process the edges of the wound.
- Propolis also proved to be quite good. It is used for weeping skin injuries.
If the patient has a high temperature, and the wound causes acute pain, then home treatment should be discontinued and seek medical help. Perhaps an infection has got into it and an additional examination is required.
Thus, the dressing of a purulent wound does not present any special difficulties. The main thing is to observe sterility in order to prevent infection by pathogenic microbes.