Skip to content

What is Autolytic Debridement?

Autolytic debridement is one of many methods used for treating wounds. This process is painless and employs advanced dressings to promote moist wound healing. Read on to learn more about what autolytic debridement is, its benefits, and the dressings used in this treatment. 

What is wound debridement?

Wound debridement is the process of removing non-viable, damaged and infected tissue from the wound bed to promote a healthy wound-healing process. It is an essential part of wound care and is considered a standard in the management of all types of wounds, including infected, acute and chronic wounds. 

Debridement is important because dead tissue can accommodate infections by giving bacteria a place to grow. Devitalized tissue in a wound can also hinder the growth of healthy tissues. By removing it through debridement, the risk of infection is reduced, and the healing of infected wounds is encouraged. 

What is autolytic debridement?  

Autolytic debridement is a wound debridement process in which the body’s own enzymes and moisture are used to break down necrotic debris and non-viable tissue. 

For some acute wounds, this process is a natural bodily response and occurs automatically during the second stage of healing — the inflammatory stage. For other types of wounds, such as chronic wounds, autolytic debridement must be induced externally. This is done by applying dressings that provide a moist environment conducive to optimal healing. [1] 

How does autolytic debridement work?

The mechanisms of autolytic debridement can be broken down into three key stages: 

1. Retaining moisture: The first stage is to create a moist wound environment, which is required to facilitate autolytic debridement. Advanced dressings such as Hydrofera Blue® CLASSIC are used to create and maintain moisture by trapping the wound fluid. 

2. Enzyme activity: Wound fluid contains naturally occurring enzymes, such as collagenolytic and proteolytic enzymes, which digest and liquefy the necrotic tissue. In doing so, the enzymes aid the removal of dead tissue from the body by breaking down the proteins that bind the tissue to the body. 

3. Removal: The liquified necrotic tissue can then be absorbed into the wound dressing. It will either come off with the dressing or can be gently cleaned off. Alternatively, the liquified dead tissue can be engulfed and removed by white blood cells called macrophages and neutrophils. 

What are the benefits of autolytic debridement?  

There are various benefits to using autolytic debridement, making it a useful tool in wound healing.

Selective tissue removal 

A main advantage of autolytic debridement is that it is highly selective. This means the debridement process targets only necrotic, unhealthy tissue and does not harm the healthy tissues in and around the wound. 

Safe and non-aggressive 

Autolytic debridement is considered the safest method of debridement because it is non-invasive and conservative. [2] It provides a slow debridement process with reduced pain and risk of further trauma. This means this method is beneficial for patients who: 

  • have an overall condition that requires a slower healing process
  • have a lower pain threshold, such as pediatric patients or those with chronic pain conditions
  • have fragile and thin skin, such as elderly patients

What dressings are available for autolytic debridement? 

Choosing the right dressing is essential for a successful autolytic debridement process. Here are key factors to consider when selecting a dressing. 

  • Absorbs exudate: The dressing should have high absorbency to securely absorb wound exudate, which contains crucial, naturally occurring enzymes needed for liquefying and removing necrotic tissues. For example, Hydrofera Blue CLASSIC® dressing, made of PVA foam, is known for its high absorption capacity. 
  • Moisture-retentive: The dressing must retain moisture to provide an ideal healing environment. Hydrofera Blue READY® dressing maintains a moist wound environment without needing hydration, ensuring the wound stays optimally moist. 
  • Antimicrobial properties: A dressing with antimicrobial properties helps prevent infections, which is especially important during autolytic debridement since the slow process can increase the risk of infection. All dressings in the Hydrofera Blue range are antimicrobial. 
  • Non-adherent: The dressing should not stick to the wound to prevent any unnecessary damage and ensure a pain-free, atraumatic dressing change. The Hydrofera Blue Ready®-Border is an example of a non-adherent dressing that also provides secure wound protection. 

Autolytic debridement is a natural, effective and vital form of wound care. Recognizing the type of wound and choosing the appropriate treatment plan and dressing can lead to better patient outcomes. Learn more about Hydrofera products today to see how your wound healing journey can be best supported.  

References

[1] Atkin, L. (2014) ‘Understanding methods of wound debridement,’ British Journal of Nursing, 23(sup12), pp. S10–S15. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2014.23.sup12.s10

[2] Wounds UK et al. (2013) EFFECTIVE DEBRIDEMENT IN a CHANGING NHS. Edited by R. Som, J. Francis, and S. Gordon. Wounds UK. https://www.lohmann-rauscher.com/fileadmin/content/pdf/Veranstaltungen/National_debridement_day/Effective_debridemen.pdf