Bedridden patients are prone to pressure sores due to local pressure on the body and poor blood circulation due to maintaining the same posture for a long time. Once bedsores ulcerate, they not only increase the patient's pain but may also cause infection and affect recovery. So, how should we deal with this problem? This article will provide you with a complete set of care guidelines from a professional perspective.
What are bedsores?
Decubitus ulcers, also known as pressure ulcers or pressure ulcers, are tissue necrosis and ulceration caused by long-term pressure on local tissues, resulting in blood circulation disorders, ischemia, hypoxia, and malnutrition of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Bedridden patients have limited mobility and remain in the same position for a long time, which puts excessive pressure on certain parts of the body, thereby increasing the risk of bedsores.
How to prevent bedsores?
1. Turn over frequently
Turn the patient over and decompress regularly, change positions frequently, and turn over every 2 to 3 hours. Soft cushions can be used locally to relieve pressure. For the care of bedsore wounds, early measures should be taken without delay.
While lying in bed, you can use an anti-decubitus air mattress to avoid long-term local pressure, which can effectively improve blood circulation in the compressed area and prevent the occurrence or worsening of pressure sores.
2. Clean the mattress
Keeping the patient's bed flat, clean, dry, and free of debris is an important part of preventing and treating bedsores. Especially for patients with incontinence, mattresses must be replaced and washed in time. A dry and clean mattress environment is beneficial to the patient.
3. Skin cleansing
Nursing staff should wash the patient's skin every day to keep it clean and dry. The patient's sweat, urine, and feces should be dealt with in a timely manner to maintain a good bed environment.
4. Nutritional provision
Bedridden elderly people consume a lot of energy due to illness and need to maintain a high-protein diet. Patients with bedsores consume a lot of energy due to illness. They need to maintain a high-protein diet and improve their nutritional status to promote physical recovery.
How to care for ulcerated bedsores:
1. Local debridement: For ulcerated bedsores, local debridement must be performed first. Clean the wound with saline or iodophor to remove necrotic tissue and secretions and keep the wound clean.
2. External drugs: Choose appropriate external drugs according to the wound condition, such as antibacterial ointments, growth factors, etc., to promote wound healing.
3. Physical therapy: such as red light irradiation, ultraviolet disinfection, etc., which can help promote blood circulation in wounds, kill bacteria, and accelerate healing.
4. Bandage protection: Use sterile gauze to wrap the wound to prevent the invasion of external bacteria. The bandage should be kept moderately tight to avoid being too tight and affecting blood circulation.
Decubitus ulcers in bedridden patients are a problem that requires attention. By taking effective preventive measures and scientific nursing methods, we can reduce the incidence of bedsores and relieve patients' pain. Comprehensive care measures must be taken to care for bedsores, and do not care for them as ordinary wounds.
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Editor: kiki Jia