Effectiveness of maggot therapy for chronic wounds - Essay Example

Introduction The treatment of the chronic wounds is the challenge for the modern healthcare. The removal of sloughy, necrotic tissue to prevent the wound infection and delayed healing is known as the maggot therapy. Maggot therapy is part of the Biosurgery and is based on using living maggots on wounds to remove devitalized tissue and improve the process of healing. Maggot therapy is not new in medicine and even during the World War I Dr. Baer observed soldiers left wounded for days on the battleground but having the clean andhealing wounds because they were infested with maggots.

This observation has led to the number of clinical studies which proved the unique effectiveness of maggots on chronic wound healing. Much has been written about this treatment method, however, the current knowledge of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) should be based on clinical observations rather than theoretical assumptions. The aim of this research is to present the general overview of the current status of MDT, outline its effectiveness and highlight the need for further clinical research.

Maggot therapy is widely implemented by many trusts in the UK as the cost effective wound healing management in the cases of ulcer debridement with successful results. The clinical results of MDT include efficient debridement, reduction in bacterial content and infection, and enhancement of granulation tissue formation in the wide range of pathologies. It is reported to be highly effective in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Podiatry, in particular, aims to manage and treat the high-risk patients with chronic wounds in the lower limb.

Just to mention, 80% of diabetic related amputations has suffered deteriorating ulcers with deep infections and gangrene. Podiatrists use Maggot Therapy for having effective antibacterial properties on the wounds, which failed to respond to convenient treatment at the early stage of treatment. Public interest in bio-surgery is increasing and based on the evidence in treatment of arterial and venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot syndrome and pyoderma gangrenosuin, patients refer to Maggot Therapy being comfortable and effective to use.

MDT is effective treatment for debridement, disinfection and stimulation of healing in chronic wounds of skin, subcutaneous tissue and bones. In addition, it can be used along with the transplant techniques and internal treatment with very rare side effects. There is the constant demand from practitioners for multi-center clinical trials. This report provides the overview of the clinical trials to provide the evidence about the effectiveness of MDT. These trials help not only to evaluate the efficacy of MDT in the debridement and reduction in bacterial content of chronic wounds, but also in the reduction of pain and malodor, enhancement of granulation tissue formation, and improvement in the quality of life.

In addition, such studies present significant challenges for healthcare. The factors as surface area measurement and color changes are quantifiable, while it is still difficult to quantify the quality of granulation tissue, the actual status of microbial activity within the chronic wound, malodor, and life enhancement. It is not easy to assess the physical well-being and feeding status of larvae, and, therefore, their efficacy, which the changing microenvironment in which they are placed into chronic wound.

These and other challenges are set against the background of 10 studies published in Maggot Debridement Therapy. Word Count: 540