An improved and new Advazorb hydrophilic foam dressing (Case Study 2)
Written by: Professor Linda Rafter Honorary Professor in Nursing Mary Seacole Research Centre De Montfort University Leicester, Wound Care Solutions Tissue Viability Nurse Consultant
Introduction
This poster reports the progress of three patients employing the Advazorb foam dressing and the results. The Advazorb foam dressing is a soft conforming hydrophilic foam designed to absorb fluid, while retaining it inside the dressing to promote wound healing.
Method
Three patients were recruited from the inpatient and outpatient clinic in the general hospital. Ages ranged between 17 – 90 years. Ward staff nominated patients, who I asked to volunteer in a trial for Advazorb foam dressing. I requested a contact number if they were going home so I could follow the patient up 14 days later. If they were still an inpatient, I visited the ward to perform the follow up information. Opinions of 10 nursing staff were collected on how they felt the Advazorb foam dressings performed. Each patient had at least 14 days treatment to enable an evaluation of the patient’s comfort and whether healing had been successful.
Case Study 2
Miss S, a 17 year old was referred to the author on 6th July 2011. The patient was originally admitted on 25th June 2011 with abdominal pain and subsequently went into theatre on 27th June 2011 for laparoscopy and pelvic abscess. Miss S was normally fit and well. On dressing removal there was a dehisced wound (15cm x 54cm) and 100% dusky pink. Her consultant was happy to proceed with the topical negative pressure dressing. She continued on this treatment regime until 25th July 2011.
On the 25th July 2011 Miss S’ wound was reviewed in clinic, and on dressing removal she now had a dehisced wound 13cm x 3cm full thickness, that started to heal well. On the abdominal wall there was some epithelisation at the bottom of the wound. The care pathway was changed from the topical negative therapy dressing to Sorban Ribbon, Aquacel (ConvaTec) and Biatain adhesive and C view edges to ensure a good seal.
Figure 3
Miss S was reviewed on the 27th July 2011. Her dehisced wound was 13cm x 3cm full thickness, but on the abdominal wall there was some epithelisation at the bottom of the wound. The wound bed was 100% pink granulation tissue. The wound exudate had completely filled the comparative foam with two dressings of 10cm x 10cm. The care pathway was changed to Sorban Ribbon, Aquacel and Advazorb and C view edges to ensure a good seal (see figure 3)
Figure 4
Miss S was reviewed on the 29th July 2011, the dressing was removed and the patient’s wound had decreased to 12.5cm x 2.5cm partial thickness. There was evidence on the abdominal wall of a large amount of epithelisation at the bottom of the wound bed, measuring only 0.5cm in depth and was nearly flush with the skin (see figure 4). The wound had still leaked a moderate amount of exudate but the Advazorb foam dressing had absorbed this exudate more effectively than the comparative foam.
Discussion
The new Advazorb foam dressing appears to provide the optimum environment for healing. One lady had a chronic wound that had increased in size prior to the use of the Advazorb foam dressing, but substantially reduced in size within 4 weeks. It appears that the Advazorb foam dressing helps to prevent infection and the fluid from the wound is wicked away into the dressing. The patients commented on removal of the dressing as experiencing no pain. The nurses stated that in comparison to their usual comparable foam dressing, which they usually employed to manage these wounds, against Advazorb foam they found it very comparable. They concluded the Advazorb foam dressing provides an increase in performance to manage exudate, which appears to help promote wound healing.
Conclusion
Whilst this evaluation only contains three patient case studies, the patients found the dressings extremely comfortable and the author found them easy to apply and remove. There was improvement in all three case study wounds. The author was very impressed with the Advazorb foam dressing’s ability to take up the exudate compared with other similar foam dressings that were normally employed.