Avaliação da eficácia do fator de crescimento epidérmico associada ao laser de baixa intensidade em feridas crônicas

Abstract

Chronic wounds are those that fail to forward in an orderly repair process to produce anatomical and functional integrity over a period of three months. It is a health concern, which affects quality of life, increases absenteeism, and has great economic impact on the health care system with increased burden on institutions and families. The epidemiological magnitude of the occurrence of chronic wounds and the scarcity of national scientific research related to the association of low intensity Laser and Epidermal Growth Factor in the treatment of chronic wounds justifies the significance of this study. The implementation of effective and of low cost technologies to the population makes beneficial the assistance to patients with chronic wounds, which intensifies the improvement of their quality of life. Objectives: To identify whether the topical use of Growth Factor associated with complementary therapy with Low Intensity Laser will improve the healing of chronic wounds. Methods: This is a non-randomized experimental study with analytical approach, whose focus was the result of the use of Epidermal Growth Factor associated with Low Intensity Laser complementary therapy in chronic wounds. Data collection was performed at the Wound Care Outpatient Clinic at Hospital de Base; 20 participants received the application of the Epidermal Growth Factor topical gel in conjunction with the Low Intensity Laser three times a week during 21 days; the treatment was administrated at the outpatient clinic by the researcher. Results: Twenty patients with a mean age of 50.5 years old were treated as well as followed-up. In this study, the majority of the patients was male (57.7%), had not complete primary education (46.1%) and were with common-law marriage (38.5%). Predominantly, the patients in this study had three comorbidities: hypertension (40%), chronic venous insufficiency (20%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (15%). Regarding initial wound conditions; typically, patients in this study they had traumatic wounds (38.5%), followed by surgical wounds (30.8%) and venous ulcers (15.4%). At the beginning of data collection, in accordance with the PUSH scale, the average length and width of the wounds was 6.26, characterizing lesions that measured from 3.1 cm2 to 4.0 cm2. At 21 days, the mean length was 5.26, characterizing wounds that measured between 2.1 cm2 and 3.0 cm2 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that there was an improvement in the healing process of treated wounds, demonstrating that the use of these techniques has accelerated tissue proliferation that positively affects the evolution of wound characteristics.