5- Bedsores

Prevention:

• Frequently change the position of the patient.
• Local massage of red areas with a piece of ice, as often as possible.  (pxx083)
• Put a soft sheepskin mat under the patient in the affected/suspect areas (I can not explain why!)  (pxx020) (A synthetic soft sheepskin mat also works)

Curative

// pxx084 //pxx255- pxx256- pxx312 //

• As for prevention: "Soft sheepskin mat" (pxx020) is again useful!
• Don't use cream!  Most creams will temporarily soften skin around sore, and then blood circulation will be more difficult (pressure of weight) in affected area.
• Simply washing the sore with normal saline (without sugar!) solution is better.
• Give antibiotics orally only if there is evidence of infection.  Debride only if there are dead (black) areas and if you feel the black area contains still active infection (bad smell, pus coming from under the black area, general septic signs...) BUT if you debride, it is always better to give antibiotics also (ampi/genta for instance) - pxx179- pxx180- pxx181- pxx182- pxx183- pxx184-. If "black area" seems to be "dry" and "sterile", it is often better not debride... -pxx185- pxx084-
• If possible, let air circulate around the sore (No diapers!).
• If close to death, patients can suffer “terminal bed sores" // pxx169- 170// pxx444// or phlyctene (pxx122) (pxx169...) ... Debriding is not welcome in that context...

Confusion between infectious wounds, ischemic necrosis by vascular collapse (deep infection) (pxx100) (pxx101) and bedsores is possible!