International Journal of Nursing Education

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Normal Saline Vs Tapwater in Irrigation of Chronic Wounds


Affiliations
1 College of Nursing, JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate amaedical Education and Research), Puducherry-06, India
2 College of Nursing, AIIMS, (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, India
3 Dept. of Surgery, AIIMS, (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Objective

To compare the effects of Normal saline Vs Tap Water on infection, healing rate of chronic wounds.

Material and Methods

This study used Randomized Controlled Trial in surgical OPD/ D7 Ward/AB6 Ward of All India institute Of Medical Sciences Hospital, included 31 subjects in Tap Water group, 30 subjects in Normal saline group. Subjects were randomly allocated to have the wound irrigated with either normal saline or tap water.

Results

The healing rate was assessed by percentage decrease in area at 2 weekly intervals. At the end of the5-6 weeks follow up the percentage decrease in saline group was 45.34%(mean size: 8.42±6.57) compared to 40.58 % (mean size of 5.36±7.89) in tap water group. There was no significant different between the groups. (p >0.05) The overall post irrigation culture was 64.51% positive in saline group, 58.06% positive in tap water group with the p value of>0.05.

Conclusion

There was no significant difference between the wounds in term of wound infection and healing rate. Drinkable tap water appears to provide safe alternative to sterile Normal saline in irrigation of chronic wounds.


Keywords

Tap Water, Chronic Wounds, Nrmal Saline.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Zimmy S, Pfohi M.healing times and prdiction of wound healing in neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.Exp clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2005;113:90-93.

  • Gupta N, Shukla VK,Gupta SK.Chronic wounds.Jwound care 2004 sep;13(8):323-5.

  • Moscati R, Reardon R, Lerner E.Wound irrigation with tap water. Academic Emerg Med 1998; 5:11:1076-1080.

  • Hanson D, Langemo D, Thompson P, Anderson J, Hunter S,.Understandind wound fluid and phases of healing.Adv skin wound care 2005 sep;18(7):360-362.

  • Russel L.Understanding physiology of wound healing and how dressings help.Br J Nurs 2000 Jan13-26;9(1):10- 12.

  • Kiernan M.The process of granulation and its role in wound healing.Community Nurse 1999;5(5):48-50.

  • Johnstone CC, Farley A.The physiological basics of wound healing.Nurs stand 2005Jul 6-12;19(43):59-65.

  • Sibbald RG. An approach to leg and foot ulcers: A brief overview. Ostomy wound management.1998;44:28-32,34-35.

  • Isabel C, Valenia MD, Anna Falabella, Robert SK, William HE, Miami et al. Chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulceration. J Am Acad Dermat. 2005; 44(3): 401-415.

  • Beaglehole R.Epidemilogy of varicose veins. World J Surg.1994;81:167-173.

  • Evans CJ, Fowkers FGR, Rukley CV.prevalence of varicose veins and CVI in men and women inn the general population. J Epidemilog Community Health 1999;53:149-153

  • Luciana P, Fernandez, Sidnei L. Venous ulcer: Epidemiology, pathophysiolgy, diagnosis and treatment.The international society of Dermatology 2005;44:449-456

  • Lawrence J.Wound irrigation. J Wound Care 1997;6:123- 126

  • Fletcher J. wound cleansing. The professional Nurse;12(11):793-796

  • Moscati R, Mayrose J, Fincher L, Jehle D. Comparison of Normal Saline with Tapwater for wound irrigation.Am J Emerg Med 1998;16:379-381

  • Moscati R, Reardon R, Lerner E. Wound irrigation with Tapwater. Academic Emerg Med 1998;5(11):1076-1080

  • Griffths RD. Is tapwater a safe alternative to normal saline for wound irrigation in the community setting? J Wound care 2001;10(10):407-410

  • Bansal BC, Robert AW, Sebrina DP, Thomas JA. Tapwater for irrigation of lacerations. Am j Emerg Med 2002;20:469-472


Abstract Views: 938

PDF Views: 2




  • A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Normal Saline Vs Tapwater in Irrigation of Chronic Wounds

Abstract Views: 938  |  PDF Views: 2

Authors

R. Lakshmi
College of Nursing, JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate amaedical Education and Research), Puducherry-06, India
Rachel Andrews
College of Nursing, AIIMS, (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, India
Sunil Chumber
Dept. of Surgery, AIIMS, (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, India

Abstract


Objective

To compare the effects of Normal saline Vs Tap Water on infection, healing rate of chronic wounds.

Material and Methods

This study used Randomized Controlled Trial in surgical OPD/ D7 Ward/AB6 Ward of All India institute Of Medical Sciences Hospital, included 31 subjects in Tap Water group, 30 subjects in Normal saline group. Subjects were randomly allocated to have the wound irrigated with either normal saline or tap water.

Results

The healing rate was assessed by percentage decrease in area at 2 weekly intervals. At the end of the5-6 weeks follow up the percentage decrease in saline group was 45.34%(mean size: 8.42±6.57) compared to 40.58 % (mean size of 5.36±7.89) in tap water group. There was no significant different between the groups. (p >0.05) The overall post irrigation culture was 64.51% positive in saline group, 58.06% positive in tap water group with the p value of>0.05.

Conclusion

There was no significant difference between the wounds in term of wound infection and healing rate. Drinkable tap water appears to provide safe alternative to sterile Normal saline in irrigation of chronic wounds.


Keywords


Tap Water, Chronic Wounds, Nrmal Saline.

References