The Negative Effects of Debridement

Debridement is used to remove dead tissues, foreign bodies and tissues that are healing poorly from wounds to help them heal. It can also be done to search for tunnels below the skin and infection. Debridement is done slowly and it can sometimes need to be repeated, especially with severe wounds. In some cases, wounds can take several years to begin healing and some wounds may never heal, says Drugs.com. The negative effects of debridement occur rarely. When they do occur, the severity varies. Certain factors increase a patient's chance of experiencing negative effects, including infection, immune disorders, pre-existing medical conditions, poor circulation, smoking, poor nutrition, diabetes and using immunosuppressive medications or steroids.

Pain

• Patients are often locally anesthetized during debridement to help minimize pain and discomfort. If the wound is especially deep, severe or is a pressure ulcer, they may be given general anesthesia and be asleep during the procedure, says Aurora Health Care. However, after this procedure is done, patients may experience some pain and discomfort. Pain or discomfort may be experienced during the procedure if high negative pressure, larvae or maggots are used, says Drugs.com. The degree of pain and how long it lasts varies.

Bleeding

• There will often be some bleeding during debridement, as well as some minor bleeding after the procedure. However, Drugs.com states that patients may bleed more than they expect, especially if a blood vessel is cut.

Infection

• After wound debridement, patients may experience an infection. An infection can occur if bacteria on the surface of the skin or wound are introduced into the deeper tissues of the body, says Surgery Encyclopedia.

Tissue Effects

• If mechanical debridement is performed, some healthy tissues may be removed, says Aurora Health Care. Other possible tissue problems include delayed healing. Patients with the risk factors that can increase the chance of experiencing the negative effects of debridement are more likely to experience delayed healing. This is especially true of diabetes. According to the Native American Cancer Research Organization, several different diabetes-related complications, such as blood vessel injury and elevated blood sugar levels, can contribute to poor and slow wound healing.