What is the purpose of perineal care?

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Preparation of Articles:

A Tray containingMackintosh

     Purpose:

To protect the bed.Wet cotton ball or rag pieces in a bowl.

     Purpose:

To clean perineum.A jug with warm water or antiseptic solution.

   Purpose:

Gauze or rag pieces in a container.Long artery forceps in kidney tray.


      Purpose:

To hold swabs for cleaning.Paper bag.

      Purpose:

To receive wastes.Clean linen, pads, dressing etc as needed.


      Purpose:

To keep patient clean.Bed pan.

Purpose:

if the patient is in need to passing urine or stool. 

Preparation of Patient:

1. Explain procedure to the patient.



2. Provide privacy by screens and drapes. Drape the patient as for vaginal examinations.


3. Remove all articles that may interfere with the procedure e.g. air cushion.


4. Give extra pillows to raise the head.


5. Roll the draw sheet to opposite side to prevent soiling when bedpan is placed under buttocks, over draw sheet.


6. Offer bed pan. Keep the clean bed-pan on the bed on your working side.


7. Untie the pads, if any and observe the discharges its color, odor, amount etc.


8. Leave the patient for sometime so that she may pass urine or stool if necessary.

9. Get the toilet tray and arrange the articles conveniently on bed side table.

1. Wash hands       Reason: To prevent cross infection.2. Pour water over perineum.       Reason: To wash off the discharge from the perineal area.3. Clean the perineum using the wet swabs.       Reason: To prevent the entrance of bacteria from the colon into urinary tract.

4. Hold the swabs with forceps and clean from above.



5. Use one swab for one swabbing.

6. Clean perineum from the midline outward in following order           a.  The vulva           b. The labia           c. Inside of labia on both sides.           d. Outside of labia on both sides. 7. Clean the perineal region and anus thoroughly.8. Remove the bed pan by supporting the hip as before. Turn the patient to one side and dry the buttocks with dry rag piece.

After Care:

1. Apply the medicine and pad if necessary.



2. Remove the mackintosh if extra one is used.


3. Change linen if necessary straighten the bed clothes. Arrange the bed linen.


4. Make patient comfortable.


5. Take the bed pan to sanitary annex. Remove cotton swabs, and empty the contents into toilet.


6. Clean all articles.


7. Boil forceps.


8. Replace articles.


9. Remove screen and tidy up the unit.


10. Wash hands.


11. Record the procedure with date and the observations made.

Introduction:

It is also defined as perineal-genital care. The perineal area is condusive to the growth of pathogenic organisms because it is warm, moist and it is not well-ventilated. Since there are many orifices example, urinary meatus, vaginal orifice and the anus situated in this area, the pathogenic organisms can enter into the body. Thoroughly cleanliness is essential to prevent bad odor to promote comfort.

Definition:

Perineal care involves washing the external genitalia and surrounding with soap and water or with water alone or in combination with any commercially prepared peri-wash.

Principle:

Clean the perineum from the cleanest to less clean area.Patient who require special attention to perineal area.1. Patient who are unable to do self-care.2. Patient with genitor-urinary tract infection.3. Patient with incontinence of urine and stool.4. Patient with indwelling catheters.5. Postpartum patients.6. Patients after surgery on the genitor-urinary system.7. Patients with injury, ulcer or surgery on perineal area.Preliminary Assessment: (For Female Client)1. Assess the condition of perineal skin-any itching, irritation, ulcers, oedema, drainage etc.2. Assess the need and frequency of perineal care.3. Assess whether perineal care should be done under an aseptic technique or a clean technique.4. Check the physician’s order for any specific instructions.5. Assess the patient ability for self care.6. Assess the patient mental state to follow instructions.

7. Check the articles available in patients unit.


Perineal Care –  A Simple Nursing Procedure.

Introduction

Perineal care involves washing the genital and rectal areas of the body. It should be done at least once a day during bed bath, shower, or tub bath. It is done more often when a patient is incontinent. This prevents infection, odors and irritation.

Wash your hands, put on gloves, and maintain privacy and respect, throughout the task.

Perineal care for female patients:

  1. fill the bath basin with clean warm water
  2. position the female patient on their back,
  3. put a protective cover over the bed linen,
  4. separate the labia and wash, rinse and dry the urethral area first with short, downward strokes alternating from side to side and proceed until the exposed area around the urethra is done,
  5. then rinse the cloth or use a new wash-cloth,
  6. wash the groin on the outside of the labia from the front to the back starting from outside of the labia and then going to the inside of the thighs,
  7. then rinse the cloth,
  8. turn the person on their side,
  9. and wash, rinse and dry the rectal area.

Perineal care for male patients:

  1. Follow steps 1-3 above
  2. Wash the groin from the front to the back starting at the groin area and then going to the inside of the thighs,
  3. Then rinse the cloth or use a new wash-cloth,
  4. Pull back the foreskin if the patient is not circumcised, wash and rinse the tip of the penis downward while using gentle, circular motions and then the scrotum,
  5. Follow steps 8-9 above

Notes for Dementia Patients

  • Dementia is primarily a disease where the patient loses his or her memory and maybe confused. Take these extra steps to ensure the procedure goes smoothly.
  • Be prepared: People with dementia can become agitated quickly. Have all supplies out and ready.
  • Speak calmly and do not yell.
  • Address the person by name and repeat your name often to reduce feelings of confusion.
  • If the person becomes distressed, stop immediately and find out what is causing the distress. You may have to finish the perineal care at a later time.

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GRADE evaluation of interventions for perineal care

Important outcomesReducing perineal trauma, quality of life, adverse effects
Number of studies (participants)OutcomeComparisonType of evidenceQuality Consistency Directness Effect sizeGRADEComment
What are the effects of intrapartum surgical interventions on rates of perineal trauma?
7 (4959) Reducing perineal traumaRestrictive use of episiotomy v routine episiotomy4–1000ModerateQuality point deducted for weak methods in one RCT
1 (at least 407) Reducing perineal traumaMidline episiotomy v mediolateral episiotomy4–30–10Very lowQuality points deducted for quasi-randomisation, incomplete reporting of results, one report in abstract form only, and no intention-to-treat analysis. Directness point deducted for unclear outcome measurement
18 (at least 6162) Reducing perineal traumaEpidural analgesia v non-epidural analgesia4–2000LowQuality points deducted for weak methods and use of surrogate outcome (instrumental deliveries)
3 (1912) Adverse effectsEpidural analgesia v non-epidural analgesia4–2000LowQuality points deducted for weak methods and unclear clinical relevance of outcome
11 (3799) Reducing perineal traumaVacuum extraction v forceps4–2000LowQuality points deducted for inclusion of quasi-randomised RCTs and lack of blinding
At least 11 (at least 3431) Adverse effectsVacuum extraction v forceps4–2000LowQuality points deducted for inclusion of quasi-randomised RCTs and lack of blinding
What are the effects of intrapartum non-surgical interventions on rates of perineal trauma?
At least 14 (at least 12,757) Reducing perineal traumaContinuous support during labour v usual care4–2000LowQuality points deducted for support intervention varying between trials and use of surrogate outcome (instrumental deliveries)
18 (5506) Reducing perineal traumaUpright position during delivery v supine or lithotomy positions4–3000Very lowQuality points deducted for exclusion of participants after randomisation, diversity of interventions, and crossover between groups
11 (4542) Adverse effectsUpright position during delivery v supine or lithotomy positions4–3000Very lowQuality points deducted for exclusion of participants after randomisation, diversity of interventions, and crossover between groups
1 (252) Reducing perineal traumaPassive descent in the second stage of labour v active pushing4–2000LowQuality points deducted for incomplete reporting of results and use of surrogate outcome (instrumental deliveries)
5 (471) Reducing perineal traumaSustained breath holding (Valsalva) method of pushing in second stage of labour v exhalatory or spontaneous pushing4–20–10Very lowQuality points deducted for incomplete reporting, including unpublished trials, and inclusion of non-RCT data. Directness point deducted for limited outcomes measured
2 (6632) Reducing perineal trauma"hands-poised" method of delivery v "hands-on" method of delivery4–2000LowQuality points deducted for quasi-randomisation and missing data
1 (5471) Adverse effects"hands-poised" method of delivery v "hands-on" method of delivery40000High
8 (2939) Reducing perineal traumaImmersion in water during first or second stage of labour v no immersion 4–3000Very lowQuality points deducted for different interventions of water immersion in RCTs, crossover between groups, and poor methods
What are the effects of different methods and materials for primary repair of first- and second-degree tears and episiotomies?
2 (2594) Reducing perineal traumaNon-suturing of perineal skin alone in first- and second-degree tears and episiotomies v conventional repair4–1–100LowQuality point deducted for no intention-to-treat analysis. Consistency point deducted for conflicting results
2 (2594) Adverse effectsNon-suturing of perineal skin alone in first- and second-degree tears and episiotomies v conventional repair4–1–100LowQuality point deducted for no intention-to-treat analysis. Consistency point deducted for conflicting results
2 (152) Reducing perineal traumaNon-suturing of muscle and skin in first- and second-degree tears v suturing4–3000Very lowQuality points deducted for scarce data, incomplete reporting of results, and unclear outcome measurement
2 (152) Adverse effectsNon-suturing of muscle and skin in first- and second-degree tears v suturing4–3–100Very lowQuality points deducted for scarce data, incomplete reporting of results, and unclear outcome measurement. Consistency point deducted for conflicting results
11 (at least 5172) Reducing perineal traumaAbsorbable synthetic sutures v catgut4–3–100Very lowQuality points deducted for incomplete reporting of results, no blinding in some RCTs, and incomplete recruiting in one RCT. Consistency point deducted for conflicting results
2 (1811) Reducing perineal traumaDifferent types of absorbable synthetic suture v each other4–2–100Very lowQuality point deducted for no intention-to-treat analysis in one RCT and incomplete reporting of results. Consistency point deducted for different results for different outcomes
4 (1588) Reducing perineal traumaContinuous subcuticular suture for repair of perineal skin v interrupted sutures40000High
2 (1751) Reducing perineal traumaLoose continuous suture for repair of all layers v interurupted sutures4–1000ModerateQuality point deducted for no intention-to-treat analysis
What are the effects of different methods and materials for primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (third- and fourth-degree tears)?
3 (279) Reducing perineal traumaOverlap v end-to-end approximation for primary repair of external anal sphincter (third-degree tears)4–1–100LowQuality point deducted for heterogeneity of outcome measurement. Consistency point deducted for different results for different outcomes