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The ability to recognise the need for debridement is a vital skill for general practice nurses (GPNs), since it is an important part of preparing the wound for healing. Debridement removes dead tissue within the wound that can otherwise provide a physical barrier to healing, while also providing an ideal environment for micro-organisms, increasing the risk of infection. In order for healing to progress, it is important to debride the wound promptly. Failure to do so can result in wound chronicity and an associated impact on resources and patient quality of life. While there are different methods of debridement available, this article focuses on autolytic and mechanical, explaining how they work and their benefits and limitations.
This advertorial is the first in a sequence of educational articles, which will be published over the next few months. These individual learning activities will help to improve your understanding of the AQUACEL dressing range.
The number of patients with venous leg ulcers is growing as the population ages. Recent estimates indicate that 730,000 people with venous leg ulcers were treated in 2012/13 (Guest et al, 2015); a number that is predicted to increase year on year. Venous leg ulcers can be difficult to manage in some patients despite best practice, particularly in those with multiple comorbidities. These patients can develop chronic ulceration that can be present for months or even years in some cases. The cost of managing these patients presents a significant burden to the NHS. An evaluation was carried out to determine the efficacy of LQD® wound spray, a unique spray-on wound dressing that contains Chitosan FH02™, in promoting wound healing in patients with longstanding venous leg ulcers. The results indicated that LQD wound spray contributed to putting the wounds onto a healing trajectory.
Long-term conditions: compression therapy and venous leg ulceration.
Compression therapy is the recommended treatment for the prevention and management of venous leg ulceration and lymphatic insufficiency (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [SIGN], 2010; Harding et al, 2015; Wounds UK, 2016). Various methods of delivering compression are used in the UK, including bandaging, hosiery and Velcro® wraps. Selecting the correct device can be challenging for clinicians. This article explores the different compression systems available to help general practice nurses (GPNs) make appropriate choices for their patients, i.e. an option which is acceptable to the patient and can be applied safely and proficiently.
This feature asks experts in their particular field to take a look at a therapy area and examine some of the challenges that general practice nurses (GPNs) may face. In this issue, we look at wound cleansing and ask how...