Pressure ulcers. Analysis of guidelines for treatment and management.

Although prevention is the most important step in pressure ulcer care, clinicians should be familiar with the best methods for treating and managing these lesions, because proper care and subsequent vigilance can prevent worsening of the wound. In 1994, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published clinical practice guidelines to help standardize and improve ulcer care. Six key areas of ulcer management were addressed. The section on ulcer care--which includes discussions of debridement, wound cleansing, dressings, and adjunctive therapies--is examined here.