Maggot Debridement Therapy in the Palliative Setting

Success rates of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) differ, but range from 70% to 80%. In this article it is argued that wound closure is not always feasible and is not always the aim of the treatment. A patient is described in whom the intent of MDT was not wound closure, but infection removal, reduc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of hospice & palliative medicine 2007-08, Vol.24 (4), p.308-310
Main Authors: Steenvoorde, Pascal, van Doorn, Louk P., Jacobi, Cathrien E., Oskam, Jacques
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Amputation
Animals
Debridement - methods
Fatal Outcome
Female
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Infection Control
Larva
Leg Ulcer - etiology
Leg Ulcer - mortality
Leg Ulcer - therapy
Netherlands - epidemiology
Nursing
Odorants
Palliative Care - methods
Severity of Illness Index
Skin Care - methods
Treatment Outcome
Wound Healing
Wound Infection - prevention & control
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Summary:Success rates of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) differ, but range from 70% to 80%. In this article it is argued that wound closure is not always feasible and is not always the aim of the treatment. A patient is described in whom the intent of MDT was not wound closure, but infection removal, reduction of odor, and eventually prevention of a below knee amputation. This succeeded: the pain was diminished, the odor reduced, and the wound showed signs of healing. Still the patient died. In maggot literature, as with other wound treatments, outcome is recorded as closed or as failed. In our opinion, MDT has other indications besides wound closure.
ISSN:1049-9091
1938-2715
DOI:10.1177/1049909107302300