title: Use of larval therapy to treat a diabetic patient's pressure ulcer.
abstract: This case study reflects on the care of a diabetic patient with an extensive pressure ulcer on the heel. It addresses the issue of the limitations of scope of practice and expertise of the tissue viability nurse with regard to effective treatment of the diabetic foot. Methods of autolytic, sharp and surgical debridement are all attempted with varying degrees of success, together with one application of larval therapy. The importance of collaboration with members of the multidisciplinary team is addressed. Unfortunately, the final patient outcome is not yet known but this has provided a valuable reflective learning experience for myself as a tissue viability nurse.
authors.affiliation: Mater Hospital, Belfast.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Semple
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D017592:Skin Care / Q000451:nursing; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing