CLINICAL CHALLENGES OF WOUND CARE TODAY

Clinicians face a multitude of challenges, from juggling the demands of patient caseloads on a day-to-day basis to ensuring that they deliver clinically and cost-effective, evidence-based, patient-centred care. With an ever-increasing number of dressing options to choose from, it is important to make informed clinical decisions, knowing that there is the clinical heritage behind the product.

The AQUACEL® family of dressings has an unrivalled history, and has been constantly evolving in response to clinicians’ wound care needs, with a sound evidence base to support its use in practice.

Indeed, the AQUACEL dressing range leads the way with:

20 years+ of global clinical heritage30 randomised controlled trialsMore than 365 pieces of evidenceMore than 400 million dressings sold globally.

A clinical heritage to trust

POWERED by

Hydrofiber Technology in action:

Locks in* wound fluid and bacteria to help minimise cross-infection and reduce lateral spread of fluid to help prevent maceration (Bowler et al, 1999; Walker et al, 2003; Newman et al, 2006; Walker et al, 2007; Walker and Parsons, 2010).

Micro-contours* and forms an intimate contact with the uneven wound bed, helping to minimise the dead spaces in which bacteria can grow (Jones et al, 2005; Bowler et al, 2010).

Balances* wound fluid volume, adding and removing moisture to maintain a moist wound healing environment. The cohesive gel helps minimise pain associated with dressing changes (Barnea et al, 2004; Kogan et al, 2004; Foster et al, 2004).

* As demonstrated in vitro

Advertorial: AQUACEL® dressing range

And, in these 20+ years, the range has evolved to ensure that its innovative design meets the specific demands of wounds, with a choice of dressings suitable for every stage of wound healing and volume of exudate being produced — all containing Hydrofiber® Technology.

with wound exudate. The gel locks in exudate, protecting the surrounding skin and helping to remove non-viable tissue, such as slough or necrotic tissue (Queen, 2010).

Comfortable and highly absorbent even under compression (World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2007), the dressings are strong when wet and facilitate easy removal (Healthy Volunteer Study Report, Protocol CW 0207 11 A736. Data on File ConvaTec Inc), which helps to minimise pain associated with dressing changes (Caruso et al, 2004). The dressings can be cut to size or folded to fit any shape of wound and are ideal for moderately to heavily exuding chronic and acute wounds.†

With its roots firmly based in the UK despite its global presence, Hydrofiber Technology is made of raw materials which are processed, textiled and packed in the UK.

* As demonstrated in vitro† Refer to product pack insert(s) for complete directions for use

Locks in*

Micro-contours*

Balances*

‘AQUACEL Extra is very absorbent and easy to apply. Very good at de-sloughing wounds. Would recommend it.’District nurse

Hydrofiber Technology can only be found in the AQUACEL family of dressings and its unique construction has contributed to its performance* (Sopata et al, 2017), which is supported by the evidence.

WHAT IS AQUACEL AND HYDROFIBER TECHNOLOGY?

AQUACEL dressings are made from a soft, non-woven material, with the Hydrofiber Technology incorporated, which transforms into a gel on contact

Wound

Care

People

Ltd

JCN 2018, Vol 32, No 4 19

AQUACEL® EXTRA™ DRESSING — PROVING ITSELF ON EVERYDAY WOUNDS

Case report

This 58-year-old patient with limited mobility presented with a chronic leg ulcer of over two years’ duration to the posterior aspect of her right leg (Figure 1). She had become semi-reclusive following a break-in while at home. The psychological impact of this event resulted in her sleeping downstairs in a chair and using taxis to travel even short distances. Due to chronic dependency from sleeping in a chair, her legs became swollen and she gained a great deal of weight, which also compounded an arthritic knee, further reducing her mobility.

At presentation to a lymphoedema clinical nurse specialist, the patient’s leg ulcer measured 12x10cm and was producing a high volume of exudate. There was severe oedema and extensive skin changes, including papillomatosis, skin folds and fibrosis (Figure 1). The patient’s pain level was also high.

Management aims included:Enhancing the patient’s wellbeing and promoting social mobilityReducing wound exudate and preventing maceration of the surrounding skin

To learn more about AQUACEL® and the AQUACEL family of dressings, please call: 0800 289 738 (UK) or 1800 946 938 (ROI), or visit: www.convatec.co.uk

Eliminating the need for the patient to apply dressings several times a dayProgressing the wound to healing.

The wound was initially dressed with three layers of 10x10cm AQUACEL dressing, although this was quickly changed to AQUACEL® Extra™ dressing due to the volume of exudate being produced, with standard multilayer compression bandaging.

By the second dressing change, there was a marked reduction in skin changes (Figure 2) and by day 14, complete healing was achieved (Figure 3).

DISCUSSION

Superficial ulcerations with exudate are common in chronic oedema and, if left unmanaged, will delay wound healing. As shown in this case, addressing factors such as weight, knee pain, mobility and skin changes, together with the use of appropriate dressings, such as AQUACEL Extra dressing, can contribute towards wound healing and improved patient quality of life.

At a glance...

AQUACEL Extra and the AQUACEL family of dressings:Absorb and lock in wound fluid, thereby protecting both the wound bed and periwound skin from maceration (Newman et al, 2006; Walker and Parsons, 2010)Maintain a moist wound healing environment for acute woundsMaintain optimal moisture balance for chronic wounds, i.e. neither too wet, nor too dry (Barnea et al, 2004; Kogan et al, 2004; Caruso et al, 2004) Remove slough and necrotic tissue through Hydrofiber’s mode of action (Queen, 2010)Help protect fragile wound tissueHelp minimise pain at dressing changes (Foster et al, 2004)Are comfortable and conformable (Bowler et al, 2010)Are cost-effective (Tickle, 2012).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

REFERENCES

Barnea Y, Amir A, Leshem D, et al (2004) Ann Plast Surg53(2): 132–6

Bowler P, Jones S, Towers V, Booth R, Parsons D, Walker M (2010) Wounds UK 6: 14–20

Bowler P, Jones S, Davies B, Coyle E (1999) J Wound Care8(10): 499–502

Caruso D, Foster K, Hermans M, Rick C (2004) J Burn Care Rehabil 25: 89–97

Foster DM, Hermans MHE, Rick C (2004) J Burn Ca re Rehabil 25: 89–97

Jones S, Bowler P, Walker M, Parsons, D (2004) Wound Repair Regen 12(3): 228–94

Kogan L, Moldavsky M, Szvalb S, Govrin-Yehudain J (2004) Ann Burns Fire Disasters 17(4): 201–7

Newman G, Walker M, Hobot J, Bowler P (2006) Biomaterials 27(7): 1129–39

Queen D (2010) Wounds Int 1(5): 29–32

Sopata M, Piasecki A, Sopata M (2017) Scanning electron microscopic examination of various fibrous dressings in reference to absorption potency. Poster presentation. SAWC, San Diego

Tickle J (2012) Br J Community Nurs suppl: S38, S40–6

Walker M, Bowler P, Cochrane C (2007) Ostomy/Wound Management 5 (9): 18–25

Walker M, Hobot J, Newman G, Bowler P (2003) Biomaterials 24: 883–9016

Walker M, Parsons D (2010) Wounds UK 6: 31–8

World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2007) Principles of best practice: Wound exudate and the role of dressings. A consensus document. London: MEP Ltd

‘Patients appear to like the dressing and we have had great results with using it for pressure and leg ulcers. Good product.’ District nurse

This advertorial is the first in a sequence of educational articles, which will be published over the next few months. These individual learning activities will help to improve your understanding of the AQUACEL dressing range.

AQUACEL and Hydrofiber are trademarks of ConvaTec Inc. © 2018 ConvaTec Inc.

AQUACEL Extra dressings were provided free of charge for the purposes of the evaluation

Wound

Care

People

Ltd