Wound Care Tips and Tricks

Category	Tips & Tricks
Better irrigation 1	A WOCN showed us how to use a 'Butterfly' for irrigating these type wounds and it works great! Cut off the needle and wings part of a 'Butterfly' (used for venipuncture), attach a syringe filled with NS or cleaning solution, then just insert the tubing from the 'Butterfly' into the wound/tunnel and irrigate it that way. Works great for very small wounds/punctures and tunnels. No new ideas for splash guard other than goggles or a mask with eye shield attached. ML DalSanto RN
Better irrigation 2	I have often utilized a "fem-cath" (approximate 4" flexible female strait catheter) attached to a syringe to irrigate tunneled or deep wounds. It attaches perfectly to the luer lock on the syringe, is flexible enough to maneuver but with enough length to reach difficult areas. Deanna Donnelly, RN, WCC
Better irrigation 3	Sterile wound irrigation Without the worry of expiration of saline solution; comes in a spray can, which has a bag inside it called "Wound Wash Saline" by a company called "Blairex". Comes in 4 or 7 oz can. Needs no refrigeration. Best priced at Walmart. You can also contact Blairex and request a form your doctor fills out and Blairex will cover cost if your income qualifies. Their phone number is 1-800-252-4739, OR www.woundwashsaline.com Drug and preservative free. Best of all, the saline comes out at a steady pressure and no hands are needed to clean wound = less rate of reinfection. It can even be sprayed upside down. Jennifer (wound patient)
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