Treatment
Treatment decisions and objectives should be based on the underlying problem identified in your assessment. As the wound changes, adjust the treatment to your reassessment. You should be able to access national and local guidelines for wound management to help you choose the best treatment.
Treatment dialogue
We encourage you to discuss with your patient what concerns them the most. Making them feel confident that their needs are being heard and addressed may help them follow the treatment.
Choice of dressing
We have confidence in moist wound healing as it is evidence based and proven to heal wounds faster, ensuring increased comfort for the patient. Go to the product section for more information on our dressings.
Treatment of chronic wounds
You have to identify the underlying cause of the wound. A venous leg ulcer should be treated with graduated compression therapy, but an arterial leg ulcer can’t be treated with compression.
Always refer arterial leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers to a specialist. For patients with pressure ulcers relieve or remove pressure to prevent further injury.
Wound bed preparation
If your patient has excessive necrotic tissue, you should consider referring your patient to a specialist for sharp debridement or maggot therapy. Manage exudate to ensure a moist wound environment. Is the amount of exudate increasing or decreasing?
A moist wound environment provides the best conditions for wound healing. You should also pay attention to the condition of the surrounding skin. Is the skin macerated, shiny, red, dry, scaling or thin? Use skin protectants to minimise the effects of exudate – and use emollients for dry and eczematous skin.
Wound infection
All wounds contain bacteria. A wound that is healing normally will contain a limited amount of bacteria. However, if the number of bacteria rises, the wound may become infected and show signs of infection. Check for clinical signs: delayed healing; odour; abnormal granulation tissue and increased wound pain or excessive exudate. Refer to a specialist to decide the need for an antiseptic dressing and/or systemic treatment.
Systemic infection
Bacterial overload in a wound may lead to serious infections that have to be treated with antibiotics. In addition to signs of local infection, check for clinical signs such as redness, heat, pain, oedema, purulent exudate and fever. Always refer your patient to a specialist for a decision regarding systemic treatment.
Wound pain
Six out of ten patients with chronic wounds experience wound pain. Help your patient by treating the cause of the pain. As well as treating the underlying cause, you can also apply a topical or systemic pain treatment. We recommend the unique Biatain Ibu, which, in addition to moist wound healing, may reduce pain at dressing change and at wear time. If the pain persists, you should consider systemic medication as well.
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