What is Slough on a wound?

Slough refers to the yellow/white material in the wound bed; it is usually wet, but can be dry. It generally has a soft texture. It can be thick and adhered to the wound bed, present as a thin coating, or patchy over the surface of the wound (Figure 3). It consists of dead cells that accumulate in the wound exudate.

Is Sloughy tissue bad?

Slough harbors pathogenic organisms, increases the risk of infection, and impedes healing by keeping the wound in the inflammatory phase or state; therefore, debridement methods are warranted. Exposing viable tissue will expedite the healing progress.

Why does Slough need to be removed?

An essential component of wound bed preparation is the removal of slough from a wound bed. Slough not only contributes to delayed wound healing, it also prevents an accurate wound assessment and can also harbour biofilms.

How do I get rid of Slough at home?

Wound irrigation, the use of cleansing solutions or a cleansing pad (e.g. Debrisoft®; Activa Healthcare), or the use of dressings – such as hydrogel sheets, honey or iodine cadexomers – can be used to remove slough by clinicians with minimal training.

What does Slough formation in a wound mean?

Slough formation is an indication that the wound is experiencing arrested development and is stuck in a prolonged inflammatory phase due to a number of reasons. Because skin growth and healing have been stunted, Slough tissue further opens a window for bacteria and infection to find its way into the wound and make matters worse.

What makes up the edge of the Slough?

Slough formation is associated with the creation of ridges found in the oxbow lakes. The edge of the slough has numerous sediment layers deposits. Different deposits mounted on surrounding bedrocks are elongated along the slough.

How does a slough change over the years?

Although there is little quantitative data on slough landscape degradation, ridges and sloughs degrade both vegetative and topographically over time. Vegetation changes are characterized by a decrease in open water area and increase in dense grasses. Topographic changes increase the relief between slough bottom and ridge crests.

How is the ridge and slough landscape changing?

The landscape is severely degrading in a number of locations, i.e., it is being replaced with a landscape that is more uniform in terms of both topography and vegetation, and has less directionality. This degradation is due both to changes in water depths and hydroperiods and to changes in the spatial pattern of flow velocity (speed and direction).