Fibrinous slough is dead subcutaneous tissue in a wound that is usually white or yellow in appearance. Slough is often removed from a wound bed by debridement. According to Web MD, “Debridement helps to reduce the number of microbes, toxins and other substances that inhibit healing.” Enzymatic debridement is one way to remove slough from a wound. As of 2010, Santyl, marketed by Healthpoint, is the only FDA-approved enzyme for debridement.
Lay a clean or sterile pad under the area of your body where the wound is located.
Pour saline over the wound until all exposed tissue is wet. Wear medical gloves.
Blot the wound with a clean or sterile gauze.
Apply a layer of Santyl the thickness of a dime to all areas of slough in the wound. Cover the Santyl with a damp, clean gauze.
Cover the damp gauze with a dry rolled gauze and tape to secure.
Tip
Santyl is effective for 24 hours and must be re-applied daily to remove slough effectively. Santyl is not as effective if covered with a dry dressing. Santyl must be prescribed by a physician and should be applied under the care of a physician or healthcare professional.
Warning
If the wound begins to bleed at any time, hold pressure over the wound with a clean gauze. If bleeding does not stop when you apply pressure for 10 minutes, seek medical attention.
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Writer Bio
Sally Slowiski has been writing instructional material for graduate students and engaged in medical writing since 2005. Her work has appeared in various online publications. She is an invited guest lecturer at Emory University and Georgia State University. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Emory, and a Bachelor of Science in exercise and sport science from the University of Georgia.