What it means
A wound care procedure that rinses loose dead tissue, drainage and bacteria from a wound bed. The pressure must be strong enough to clean but gentle enough not to push germs deeper or harm new tissue; a 35 mL syringe with a 19-gauge tip gives a safe pressure. Fluid flows from the cleanest area toward the dirtiest and drains into a basin below the wound.
For the nurse
Give pain medicine beforehand if needed, wear a gown, gloves and face shield against splashing, and use sterile or clean technique as ordered. Afterward, describe the wound bed, drainage and surrounding skin, and pat the skin around the wound dry.
At a glance
| Also written | wound irrigations |
|---|
Related terms
ulcer
An open sore where the skin or the lining of an organ has broken down.
laceration
A cut or tear in the skin or other tissue, often with jagged edges.
irrigation
Washing out a wound, body cavity, tube or eye with a steady flow of liquid.