How to apply maggot therapy dressings - Part 2

Part 2 of instructional video, illustrating the application of maggot therapy for wound healing.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• maggot
• therapy
• larva
• larval
• chronic
• wound
• healing
• treatment
• maggots
• amputation

[LoveMeForever1989]

what exactly is the purpose of the peeping toms? :/ i highly doubt anyone let alone a group of people wouldnt be kicked the hell out if they were wondering around spying on medical procedures lol

[BTERFoundation]

@LoveMeForever1989 - Although the "peeping toms" in this video are actually medical student actors (per the closing credits), added for humor, the scene represents reality. When maggot therapy was first done at VAMC, Long Beach (1990), so many people crowded into the patient's room that the Chief of Med (also in the room) asked everyone but the 5 staff doctors to leave. The door was closed, but many of the other doctors, nurses and trainees peeked in to get a look.

[wpaxton]

If the maggots are thrown away where do new maggots come from? Don't living things have to come from other living things?

[BTERFoundation]

@wpaxton - Medicinal maggots are grown in a laboratory. Maggots that are used to treat patients must be discarded because they are no longer germ-free . . . they may be covered by some of the germs that were in the patient's wounds. They can not be used again, nor used for breeding new maggots. Laboratories maintain a colony of flies which produce the maggots that are used for treatments. The ones that are "producers" never come into contact with patients. Thank you for your thoughtful question.

[KevinFL]

wouldnt the creepy crawling cause the patient to go koo koo?

[BTERFoundation]

Sensation within the wound is generally very poor or non-existent. Sensation around the wound, however, is intact, so your concern is valid. The purpose of the hydrocolloid pad all the way around the wound and right up to the wound edge is to prevent the maggots from crawling on the skin where the patient might otherwise feel them. The pad also prevents the digestive enzymes from draining out onto the healthy skin.

[thisblackgirl]

lol @ the people looking through the window in the door. HAHAHAHA!

[ericsantiago011]

special thanks to maggots... that saves your life =)

[LunaManor]

Well, now. Thats's facinating! I have more respect for the little guys, now that I know we've been able to breed them for the forces of good...instead of the forces that create flies in the garbage cans.

[StellarBlue1]

Those "persons" at the window need some "maggot therapy" methinks!

[smellystokin]

its a real life situation.. not everybody can perform it.. its not easy doing all this.. its not easy being a healthcare member.. i see worse in hospitals