Journal of wound care
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Journal of wound care · Apr 2015
Clinical evaluation of a silver-impregnated foam dressing in paediatric partial-thickness burns.
Mepilex Ag, a silver-impregnated foam dressing, was introduced to our institution in 2007 and our outcomes in the treatment of paediatric burns were observed to improve significantly. In order to confirm these observations, we wanted to evaluate the results of using the silver-impregnated foam dressing in partial-thickness paediatric burns. ⋯ The study was supported by an educational grant from Mölnlycke Health Care.
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Journal of wound care · Apr 2015
Review Case ReportsIncisional negative pressure wound therapy for high-risk wounds.
With an ageing population and a growing number of people with obesity and/or undergoing advanced cancer therapies, there is an increasing risk of surgical site complications including surgical site infections (SSIs). Postoperative shifting of large mobilised tissue flaps, such as in abdominoplasties, remains a dreaded complication, particularly following massive weight loss. Besides negative implications for the patient, surgical site complications result in an economic burden due to prolonged and repeated wound treatments. ⋯ In a clinical study of seroma formation, less seroma and haematoma formation was reported in post-bariatric patients who received incisional NPWT, versus the control, following body-contouring surgery. In another study of widely applied external NPWT wound dressings over the ventral and lateral trunk following post-bariatric abdominal dermolipectomy, results showed a significant reduction in exudate formation, earlier drain removal, and decreased length of hospitalisation, compared with conventional treatment. Additional controlled studies are needed to validate the clinical impact of incisional NPWT following body-contouring surgery, and to determine proper recommendations for its use.
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Journal of wound care · Apr 2015
Clinical evaluation of a silver impregnated foam dressing in paediatric partial-thickness burns.
MepilexAg, a silver-impregnated foam dressing, was introduced to our institution in 2007 and our outcomes in the treatment of paediatric burns were observed to improve significantly. In order to confirm these observations, we wanted to evaluate the results of using the silver-impregnated foam dressing in partial-thickness paediatric burns.Method: In this retrospective, study, the St. Christopher's Hospital burn registry was used to identify subjects, who were otherwise in excellent health at baseline, over an 18-month period,. Outcomes included length of stay, intravenous narcotic use, and time to healing. No direct comparative studies were performed. This was followed by a non-comparative prospective study involving 22 paediatric patients, aged 1-4 years, with partial-thickness burns. This was a sub-study of a larger randomized controlled trial involving adults with partial-thickness burns, comparing the silver-impregnated foam dressing with Silvadene. ⋯ The silver-impregnated foam dressing is effective and safe for use in partial-thickness paediatric burns, eliminating the need for daily dressings.
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Journal of wound care · Apr 2015
ReviewUse of epidermal grafts in wounds: a review of an automated epidermal harvesting system.
Chronic wounds continue to present a significant challenge to health-care providers across the globe. Unlike acute wounds, chronic wounds do not proceed through an orderly process of repair. In recent years, a number of wound healing treatments, such as dermal replacement scaffolds and negative pressure wound therapy, have promoted wound healing by stimulating the formation of granulation tissue. ⋯ A novel automated epidermal harvesting system, CelluTome Epidermal Harvesting System (KCI, an Acelity company, San Antonio, TX, USA), was commercially introduced in 2013. The system yields up to 128 epidermal micrografts that can be easily harvested at the bedside without anaesthesia and transferred to the recipient site. The harvesting technique and the use of epidermal grafts in wounds are reviewed here.