Understanding and Removing Fibrin Slough: A Guide to Wound Care

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.

Things You'll Need

• Santyl ointment
• Medical gloves
• Clean or sterile pad
• Saline
• Clean or sterile gauze
• Tape
• Rolled gauze

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Instructions

• 1

  Lay a clean or sterile pad under the area of your body where the wound is located.

• 2

  Pour saline over the wound until all exposed tissue is wet. Wear medical gloves.

• 3

  Blot the wound with a clean or sterile gauze.

• 4

  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.

• 5

  Cover the damp gauze with a dry rolled gauze and tape to secure.