How to treat bedsores in a bed patient

One who once looked after a bedridden patient knows how difficult it is - both physically and mentally. Especially if a close and dear person acts as a patient. Often people become bedridden due to neurological diseases, stroke, paralysis, fractures. If the disease is prolonged, this may be accompanied by the appearance of pressure sores. It is not easy to treat them, but it is even more difficult to prevent their reappearance. Today we’ll talk about bedsores, how and why they appear, how to deal with them with pharmacy and home recipes, and most importantly, how to protect yourself from them in the future.

What are bedsores

Pressure ulcers are tissue necrosis due to constant pressure, which is accompanied by impaired blood circulation in the affected areas. Most often, bedsores appear in places where the body touches the surface of the bed. This is usually a bone area. If a person lies on his back, bedsores appear in the neck, elbows, shoulder blades, sacrum and heels. If the patient lies on his stomach, bedsores most often form on the cheekbones, pubis, knees. It is dangerous that the patient often does not feel this tissue necrosis, wounds develop rapidly, which becomes noticeable only after examination.

Why bedsores occur

Here are some reasons that contribute to the development of pressure sores in bedridden patients.

1. The main reason is the one that led to immobilization. Most often, paralysis occurs after brain injuries that are acquired during an accident. In this case, the patient does not feel pain.
2. Pressure ulcers often occur in older people, as their tissues lose their ability to regenerate with age.
3. High humidity also contributes to the development of pressure sores. Especially if the patient can not control bowel movements or urination. Also, bedsores develop if the patient is in a humid or hot room, if he is sweating, etc.
4. The risk of pressure sores is increased if the patient has diseases associated with impaired normal circulation in the tissues.
5. Another very good reason for the formation of pressure sores, which in 90% of cases gives rise to the development of tissue necrosis, is insufficient care for the bedridden patient. Moreover, care can be thorough, but unprofessional. The person caring for the patient should not only be clean, but also aware of the many rules that will help prevent pressure sores. We will definitely talk about them a little later.
6. Large or light patient weight also increases the risk of bedsores. With overweight, pressure on the skin increases. Light weight is also a problem, because in this case the patient’s bones stick out, the skin stretches, and necrosis develops very rapidly.
7. If the skin is prone to dryness - this may be the cause of pressure sores.
8. Another risk factor is an insufficient amount of protein in the patient's diet. Protein is necessary for the restoration and regeneration of tissues and muscles.

Knowing the main reasons for the development of pressure sores, you can protect the patient from this disease. But what if the bedsores have already appeared?

How bedsores develop

Pressure ulcers can be divided into 4 stages. The disease of the first stage is not accompanied by tissue damage. The skin is whole, not damaged. However, in the first stage, one can already see redness, inflammation, swelling and a partial loss of sensitivity. Press on the skin, if the redness does not go away even after the pressure ceases, then this is the initial stage of the development of pressure sores.

The second stage is characterized by superficial violations of the integrity of the skin. That is, sores, blood and blood discharge appear on the skin, the skin around the affected area is red, inflamed, can exfoliate. The third stage of development of pressure sores is the defeat of muscle fibers. Usually at this stage, the wound gives off a lot of sucrose fluid, a deepening appears in the affected tissues, the edges of the wound are usually smooth. The fourth, last stage is the defeat of all tissues - skin, muscles, tendons, up to the bones. Sometimes in the cavity of a deep wound, bare bones are visible. Stage 3 and 4 bedsores are usually treated surgically.

How to treat bedsores

The treatment of pressure sores depends on the stage of development of the disease.

1. At the first stage of the development of the disease, you can do with careful care and the implementation of all preventive measures. Typically, patients are prescribed drugs that enhance blood circulation in the tissues - Solcoseryl, Actovegin.
2. Inflamed and reddened areas of the skin should be lubricated with Xenoform ointment.
3. In the second stage of the development of the disease, you need to carefully treat the wound, remove dead skin. Rinse affected areas with saline or hydrogen peroxide. In no case do not use tap water, you can bring pathogens into the open wound that will cause the development of the inflammatory process.
4. If inflammation has already begun (the wound at the edges has become red and painful), you need to use antibacterial ointments. Among them, Levomekol, Tetracycline ointment, Baneocin, etc. can be distinguished. Often a pressure sore is a hole in the skin, many do not know how to treat a wound with ointment - around or inside. The ointment should be applied directly to exposed tissues, inside the affected area. Along the edge of the wound, it is necessary to treat with an antiseptic to prevent the ingress of microbes. As an antiseptic, you can use simple iodine.
5. The third stage of development of pressure sores is treated more comprehensively. In this case, you can not self-medicate, be sure to call a doctor for an examination. In this case, local and internal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to improve blood microcirculation, as well as drugs that can restore tissue regeneration are usually prescribed.
6. The fourth stage of development of pressure sores is treated only in a hospital. Doctors must surgically cut off all necrotic and dead tissue. It is very important that the affected skin does not interfere with the recovery process. At the fourth stage, physiotherapeutic treatment is actively used - Laser, UHF, Electrophoresis. Various effects on the skin enhance blood circulation in the tissues, improve the penetration of drugs into the affected areas, relieve inflammation and stop the progression of pressure sores through the tissues.
7. Ointments such as Iruxol, Argosulfan, Levosin, Multifer, Boro-plus, Panthenol will help improve the situation at any stage. Restore skin regeneration will help the drug Methyluracil. Dermazinum and Vishnevsky's ointment very well helps.
8. You can get rid of excessive tissue dryness with sea buckthorn and camphor oil.
9. In the fight against pressure sores, folk remedies are also used. You can lubricate the affected areas with the juice of Kalanchoe, Lungwort and Agave. Effectively make lotions from fir oil. With serious purulent processes, baked onions can be applied to the wound. You can dry and disinfect bedsores with a soda compress. In a glass of warm water, you need to dissolve three tablespoons of soda, moisten gauze in a solution and attach to the wound.

These are the basic rules for the treatment of pressure sores at different stages of the development of the disease. Even if you manage to defeat the disease, it may return again if simple preventive measures are not followed.

Sores Prevention

Competent and adequate hygiene, the correct position of the patient, as well as the use of professional mattresses and pillows can not only prevent the occurrence of pressure sores, but also cure the first stage of their development.

1. Be sure to change the position of the patient every 2-3 hours. So you reduce the pressure of the body to a certain point, which leads to a violation of blood circulation in these tissues. You can reduce the pressure by placing rollers and pillows under some parts of the body.
2. Every day morning and evening you need to perform hygiene procedures. Wash the patient using an antibacterial soap. It is necessary to wash the patient's skin with great care, it can be damaged and literally peel off. After hygienic procedures, carefully dry the patient's skin.
3. Use clean linens, avoid crumbs and debris in the bed. Bed linen and clothes of the patient should be made of natural fabrics, without fasteners and buttons. Avoid coarse seams and stocks on the sheet.
4. If the skin is too dry in the area where the body touches the bed, use oil or a baby cream to moisturize it.
5. If the patient has urinary incontinence, a thorough toilet of the perineal zone needs to be addressed.
6. Strong sweating can be dealt with with an acetic solution. A spoonful of vinegar should be dissolved in a glass of warm water and wipe the skin in those places where it sweats harder than usual.
7. Be sure to buy an anti-decubitus mattress for the patient. It reduces the body load at certain points, pressure zones change each time, which ensures a kind of massage and increased blood circulation in the affected tissues.
8. Ventilate the room regularly so that there is fresh air.
9. In no case do tight and airtight dressings on bedsores. The skin and wound must constantly breathe.
10. If a person cannot be turned because of a spinal injury, you need to use rubber pads like a circle for swimming. So the sacral zone will be relieved of excessive pressure.
11. If there is even the slightest opportunity, you need to try to help the patient move - at least with arms and legs.

Pressure ulcers are not just an open wound, which manifests itself as a result of a prolonged stay in one position. Pressure sores can be dangerous. If they are not treated on time, complications such as sepsis, gangrene, phlegmon, erysipelas may develop. Often bedridden patients are deprived of the opportunity to tell us about their feelings, discomfort and pain. If you find a pressure sore in the patient, immediately take action. Indeed, only an integrated approach in the form of drug treatment, local treatment and sufficient hygienic care can give a real result.

Caring for a bed patient - these are the difficulties associated with constantly being nearby, observing all the doctor's prescriptions. Moreover, it is emotionally very difficult to sustain such a situation. But if a loved one is in trouble, you must definitely come to the rescue. The living conditions and recovery of the patient depend only on you.

Video: prevention of pressure sores in a patient with a stroke