eschar

Introduction

Thick, leathery, necrotic, devitalized tissue.

Management

• debridement for evidence of infection, inspect daily
  • eschar can render pressure ulcer unstageable
  • debridement indidated for unstageable pressure ulcers
• a stable, dry eschar in the absence of infection does not need debridement
  • not even with autolytic means such as with a hydrocolloid sheet
  • especially if suspected vascular disease
  • eschar may serve as a barrier to infection

More general terms

• necrotic tissue

Patient information

eschar patient information