During debridement, what irrigation pressure is advised to avoid driving debris deeper into a wound?

During debridement, what irrigation pressure is advised to avoid driving debris deeper into a wound?

• A. 2 to 4 psi
• B. 10 to 15 psi
• C. 15 to 20 psi
• D. 0 psi

Answer: (A)

Low-pressure irrigation is used during debridement to flush out contaminants without forcing them deeper into the wound. A gentle jet around 2-4 psi provides enough flow to loosen and remove debris without pushing it into tissue planes. Higher pressures—10-15 psi or 15-20 psi—can propel bacteria and debris deeper and cause tissue trauma. Zero pressure wouldn’t effectively cleanse the wound. So, the advised irrigation pressure is 2-4 psi.

Low-pressure irrigation is used during debridement to flush out contaminants without forcing them deeper into the wound. A gentle jet around 2-4 psi provides enough flow to loosen and remove debris without pushing it into tissue planes. Higher pressures—10-15 psi or 15-20 psi—can propel bacteria and debris deeper and cause tissue trauma. Zero pressure wouldn’t effectively cleanse the wound. So, the advised irrigation pressure is 2-4 psi.