Loading…
skip to main content
Logo

Surgical Debridement

ID: ANH11042
MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Your doctor will perform surgical debridement to remove dead tissue from in and around your wound. Wounds can result from a variety of causes, including injuries, burns, bed sores-- also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers-- and infected surgical incisions. Dead, damaged, or contaminated tissue can compromise circulation to your wound. In addition, the unhealthy tissues are prone to infection. Dead tissues invite bacteria to grow, which compete with growing cells for nutrients and interfere with the healing process. The wound's healthy tissues may become infected. The infection may develop into a pocket of pus-- called an abscess-- that impedes wound healing. A wound resulting from a burn may form a hardened crust of dead tissue-- called an eschar-- that can prevent healthy tissue growth and healing. Before your procedure, your doctor will numb the area around your wound with local anesthetic. For more extensive debridement, you will receive general anesthesia. To begin, your doctor may use saline or disinfectant solutions to wash or irrigate your wound. Next, your doctor will evaluate the depth of your wound, checking the extent of the dead tissue. Your doctor may remove a rim of tissues from around your wound to create a clean margin of healthy tissue and improve healing. At the end of your procedure, your doctor will place a dry bandage in your wound to manage any bleeding. He or she may also cover your wound with moist dressings to encourage healing. After your procedure, you should follow wound care directions very carefully. Be sure that you protect your wound from injury, and keep the wound and its dressings clean and dry.

Nucleus Medical Media Disclaimer of Medical and Legal Liability

Nucleus Medical Media ("Nucleus") does not dispense medical or legal advice, and the text, illustrations, photographs, animations and other information ("Content") available on this web site is for general information purposes only. As with any medical or legal issue, it is up to you to consult a physician or attorney for professional advice. YOU SHOULD NOT DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE BASED ON CONTENT CONTAINED ON THIS WEB SITE, NOR SHOULD YOU RELY ON THE CONTENT ON THIS WEB SITE IN PLACE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.

NUCLEUS DISCLAIMS ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ANY COUNSEL, ADVICE, TREATMENT, DIAGNOSIS OR ANY MEDICAL, LEGAL OR OTHER INFORMATION, SERVICES OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU OBTAIN BASED ON VIEWING THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE. THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEB SITE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE OR SUITABLE FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER.

Mature Content Disclaimer: Certain Content on this web site contains graphic depictions or descriptions of medical information, which may be offensive to some viewers. Nucleus, its licensors, and its suppliers disclaim all responsibility for such materials.

close