O uso de laserterapia de baixa intensidade para cicatrização de feridas na Atenção Primária à Saúde: série de casos

Abstract

The treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds in Primary Health Care (PHC) is a common practice for nurses. The insertion of new technologies in care practice is essential. In this context, laser therapy stands out as an adjuvant practice that has been gaining recognition in the scientific and clinical environment for wound treatment. Objective: To evaluate the use of low-level laser therapy in wound healing in a Primary Health Care service. Method: This is a descriptive, quantitative, case series study, with the use of low-intensity laser therapy, where a methodological design was established of the type before and after in which the person with the wound was controlled by himself. The scenarios included the home of people with wounds and the basic health unit in two municipalities in the interior of Minas Gerais, starting in April 2023 until March 2024. The inclusion criteria were: not having undergone laser therapy prior to the beginning of the study and having wounds that were difficult to heal. Individuals under 18 years of age, who had previously been treated with laser therapy, and those with clinical criteria for the use of low-level laser were excluded. The laser was applied once a week, with 2 J of perilesion infrared and 2 J of red in the bed of the punctual wound. The evolution of the cases was followed by measurement of the wounds with a two-dimensional ruler and photographic record authorized by the person with the wound. Results: A total of 14 people with wounds were evaluated. Wound etiologies included ulcers associated with diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, and pressure injury. The mean age of the individuals analyzed was 69,43 years, seven females and seven males. Before the laser application, pain was present in twelve individuals (85,71%), odor in (71,40%), serous exudate in (14,3%), the number of gauzes used to measure the amount of exudate as moderate (78,6%) and the mean area of the wounds was 25,28 cm². At the end of the laser treatment, pain was present in one individual (7,10%), odor in seven individuals (50%), serous exudate (85,7%), odor in (71,40%), serous exudate in (14,3%), the number of gases used to measure the amount of exudate as moderate (78,6%) and the mean area of the wounds was 25,28 cm². At the end of the laser treatment, pain was present in one individual (7,10%), odor in seven individuals (50%), serous exudate (85,7%), all wounds showed a reduction in the number of gauzes used, and the average size of the wounds was 10,32 cm². With the use of the laser and 5,45 cm², with no statistical significance (p:0,846). Considerations: It is concluded that the appropriate dressing technique, associated with laser therapy, showed a reduction in the measurements as well as in pain relief, amount of exudate and odor of the wounds, indicating the efficacy of the treatment.