title: Debridement methods in wound care.
abstract: Wound debridement is an essential part of effective wound care. There are many methods of debriding wounds and it is important that patients are involved in the decision so that they are able to give informed consent. To make effective clinical decisions and ensure patients are fully informed it is essential that nurses are aware of the different methods of debriding wounds. The nurse should also be aware of the professional requirements for competence and the risks and benefits of each method. A guideline for conservative sharp debridement has recently been published by the Tissue Viability Nurses Association (TVNA 2005), and this article reviews the issues related to the procedure and the alternatives available.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. i.1.anderson@herts.ac.uk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001329:Autolysis; D001458:Bandages; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D017364:Collagenases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007814:Larva; D009336:Necrosis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D013299:Streptodornase and Streptokinase; D017364:Collagenases