Sterile Procedures

LESSON 4: Procedures Used in Wound Care

4-13

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4-13. PREPARE THE WOUND AREA

a. Irrigate the Wound. Irrigate (rinse) the wound using an asepto syringe and large amounts of saline solution. If saline solution is not available, use sterile water. Irrigation is usually performed under the direct supervision of a physician or other

appropriate personnel. Bleeding may occur when the wound is irrigated as clots are dislodged and washed away.

(1) Position the basin under the wound area to catch the water.

 

(2) Fill the syringe with the sterile irrigating solution.

 

(3) Place the tip of the syringe as close to the wound as possible without touching the wound area.

 

(4) Depress the bulb and direct the fluid flow to all parts of the wound. Pay special attention to areas with debris, sweat, or drainage.

 

(5) Repeat the irrigation procedure until loose debris and drainage has been removed from the wound.

 

(6) Remove the basin.

b. Cleanse the Area Around the Wound.

(1) Place a sterile gauze pad over the wound and hold the pad in place.

 

(2) Cleanse the skin around the wound with gauze pads and povidone-iodine solution. Use gentle friction and circular motion. Begin working at the wound edges and clean outward until an area three to four inches from the edge of the wound has been cleansed.

 

(3) Discard the gauze pads after the area has been cleansed.

c. Shave the Area Around the Wound.

(1) Check with the physician, appropriate medical person, or SOP to determine the full area to be shaved.

 

(2) If a scalp or facial wound involving the hair, clip long, thick hair first; then shave. However, do not shave the eyebrows (cosmetic reasons).

 

(3) Shave any hair you can see at edges or in the cleansed area.

(a) Begin shaving at the edge of the wound.

 

(b) Shave outward from the wound edges.

 

(c) Apply tension by gently pulling skin taut.

 

(d) Use short strokes.

d. Cleanse the Area Around the Wound. Repeat the cleansing, using the same procedures given paragraph b. above.

e. Rinse the Wound Area. Rinse the area with sterile saline rinse. Rinsing removes loose hair from the skin and prevents hair from entering the wound.

f. Dry the Wound Area. Blot the skin dry with a fresh sterile gauze. Then place a sterile gauze over the wound.

g. Notify Physician. Notify the physician or other appropriate person that the wound area has been prepared.

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