Pulsed lavage: promoting comfort and healing in home care

The purpose of this study was to determine if hydrodebridement with pulsed lavage facilitates the removal of necrotic tissue, promotes healing, and increases comfort in the homebound patient. Home healthcare provides cost-effective care in the setting that is most conducive to healing. People want to be at home, yet many illnesses require services that cannot be obtained at home. Wound care sometimes falls into this category. Pulsed lavage has expanded treatment options for the homebound patient. Hydrodebridement with pulsed lavage is site specific, avoids cross contamination, and is less expensive than whirlpool therapy. It also may facilitate the removal of necrotic tissue and promote the formation of healthy granulation tissue. The authors performed a retrospective audit to gather data on 28 patients who received pulsed lavage treatments at home. A descriptive analysis of five variables that affect healing was undertaken including mobility/activity, nutritional status, cardiovascular/respiratory status, continence, and sensory perception. All of the clients in the sample achieved a clean, warm, moist wound bed, free of signs and symptoms of infection, absence of necrotic tissue, and the presence of granulation tissue to meet the definition of "ready for healing" as presented in the literature. The majority of clients experienced no pain. Although comorbid conditions required rehospitalization for 35.7% of the sample, the conditions did not interfere with healing. Hydrodebridement with pulsed lavage is a viable nontraumatic, noninvasive, site-specific treatment alternative for patients receiving care in the home.