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A Question From hessteh About Colorectal (Colon) Cancer

  • hessteh's Avatar  

    Question 3 months ago

    hessteh posted a questionColorectal (Colon...

    How to help healing of perineal wound? I had an abdominal perineal resection, followed by chemo and radiation last year.

    Original surgery, chemo and radiation was in 2005. At the end of my recent re-radiation, the surgical perineal wound reopened. My doctors discuss two ways to apply dressings to the wound to facilitate healing: (1) Just apply several Kerlix soft sponges to the wound opening. (2) wet/dry dressing. Soak half of a 2" x 16: long Kerlix in sterile saline solution, and push it up into the wound opening. Then apply several Kerlix soft sponges to the opening. The wet/dry method is supposed to encourage healing further into the wound, rather than just at the opening. This makes sense, but does pushing the Kerlix into the wound actually help keep the wound open, or make it worse. There is currently a fair amount of amber discharge and blood.

    Are there any studies showing which method works best?

    • CarolLHRN's Avatar

      Answered Question 3 months ago

      CarolLHRN answered

      Wet to dry dressings do not keep the wound open. They actually help keep it clean and aid in the wound closing from the inside out. Sometimes just applying pads to the outside of the wound causes the skin to close but then the inside of the wound isn't closed and it may cause the wound to reopen. The healing process is a long one but it will eventually close. I know it's not very comfortable to pack the wound with the wet dressings but in my experience, it is the best way to facilitate healing.

    • hessteh's Avatar

      Answered Question 3 months ago

      hessteh answered

      Thanks Carol for your thorough response. You sound like a nursed!! I understand the benefits of promoting healing further up into the wound area. My concern was the physical impact of using my finger to push the Kerlix up into the wound. Can this cause the wound to either stay open or reopen?

      My original wound from the APR took 6 months to close using only the dry dressings. I then started radiation, and the wound reopened at the end of the radiation program. It has been 3 months since it reopened.

    • CarolLHRN's Avatar

      Answered Question 3 months ago

      CarolLHRN answered

      Pushing the Kerlix up into the wound won't cause it to stay open. As the wound gets smaller, you may need to switch to a cotton swab. You know it takes a long time for these wounds to heal. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet as well. Good nutrition goes a long way!

    • hessteh's Avatar

      Answered Question 3 months ago

      hessteh answered

      Thanks Carol for your helpful comments. Have you ever heard of TheraBond (a silver dressing)? Article in this link talks about its advantges. Worth trying?
      http://www.woundsresearch.com/article/use-new-antimicrobial-dressing-therabond-non-healing-wound?page=0,0

    • DukeM's Avatar

      Answered Question 2 months ago

      DukeM answered

      Hessteh, did you apply or were you approved for social security disability the time you were healing your wound? My temporary disability pay had expired and I need financial help. I hope ato hear from you soon. Thanks!

    • hessteh's Avatar

      Answered Question 2 months ago

      hessteh answered

      I did not apply as I don't even know what social security disability is. I am retired and get social security monthly benefits. Sorry I can't help more. Good luck.