Combination of hydrocolloid dressing and medical compression stockings versus Unna's boot for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. (1/23)

BACKGROUND: Various therapeutic approaches have been developed to manage venous ulcers. In this study the effectiveness of a hydrocolloid dressing (Comfeel Ulcer Dressing) in comparison to the Unna boot, the prototype of rigid bandages, was evaluated. METHODS: DESIGN: Prospective, comparative study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty patients diagnosed with post-thrombotic chronic venous insufficiency with venous ulcers were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 patients. INTERVENTIONS: In group A, the Unna boot, and in group B, hydrocolloid dressing in addition to the elastic compression were used. MEASURES: The two groups were compared in terms of 1) complete healing, 2) weekly wound surface reduction, 3) time to complete healing, 4) performance characteristics (ease-of-use score), 5) pain during application and at home, 6) application time. RESULTS: The duration of the ulcers was 16.6 +/- 5.8 weeks in group A and 16.9 +/- 6.2 in group B (p >0.05). Previous ulcer recurrence was 74% (20/27 patients) in group A and 73% (19/26 patients) in group B (p >0.05). The initial ulcer size was 6.38 +/- 1.2 cm2 in group A and 6.19 +/- 0.8 cm2 in group B (p >0.05). The complete healing rates were 74.07% (20/27) in group A and 80. 76% (21/26) in group B (p >0.05). The weekly wound surface reductions were 1.28 +/- 0.72 cm2/week and 1.16 +/- 0.38 cm2/week in groups A and B, respectively (p >0.05). The ulcer healing time was 6.85 +/- 3.60 weeks in group A, whereas it was 6.65 +/- 3.31 weeks in group B (p >0.05). Ease-of-use score was 9.04 +/- 2.38 in group A and 17.27 +/- 3.27 in group B and the difference was significant (p <0.0001). A higher degree of pain was reported by the patients who were treated with the Unna boot, both during application (group A 3.69 +/- 1.35, group B 1.88 +/- 1.48, p <0.0001) and at home (group A, 3.27 +/- 1.08, group B, 1.88 +/- 1.11, p <0.0001). The average time spent on Unna boot changes was 150.59 +/- 34.73 min, compared to 134.54 +/- 43.39 min in group B (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the superiority of hydrocolloid dressing plus elastic compression treatment in terms of patient convenience.  (+info)

Evaluation of two calcium alginate dressings in the management of venous ulcers. (2/23)

Calcium alginate dressings facilitate the management of highly exudating wounds such as venous ulcers. To evaluate and compare the performance of two calcium alginate dressings in the management of venous ulcers, a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted among 19 outpatients at two wound clinics in California. Ten patients (53%) were treated with Alginate A and nine patients (47%) with Alginate B. Dressings were changed weekly and patients were followed for a maximum of 6 weeks or until the venous ulcer no longer required the use of an alginate dressing. At each dressing change, the wound was assessed and dressing performance evaluated. Absorbency of exudate, patient comfort during wear, ease of removal, adherence to wound bed, dressing residue following initial irrigation, patient comfort during removal, ease of application, and conformability were assessed. Patients using Alginate A experienced significantly less foul odor (P = 0.02) and less denuded skin (P = 0.04) than Alginate B at follow-up wound assessments. With the exception of conformability, Alginate A was rated significantly better than Alginate B (P less than or equal to 0.05) in all dressing performance assessments. No significant healing differences were observed. As the different performance characteristics of various calcium alginate dressings become more obvious in clinical practice, further study is warranted to determine their optimal effectiveness.  (+info)

Tissue reactions induced by hydrocolloid wound dressings. (3/23)

Porcine full-thickness excisional wounds were treated with 4 different hydrocolloid (HCD) dressings--DuoDERM (ConvaTec/E. R. Squibb), Intrasite HCD (Smith and Nephew Medical), Tegasorb (3M) and Replicare (Smith and Nephew Medical). Animals were killed at 4, 10, 21 and 90 d post-wound, excision sites were fixed in formalin and processed for histological analysis. Granulomatous lesions were observed following treatment with each of the 4 HCD dressings. Such lesions developed between 4 and 10 d post-wound, exhibiting little evidence of resolution at 90 d post-wound. Of the 4 dressings examined, DuoDERM and Intrasite HCD precipitated the most severe reaction, each treatment resulting in granulomata with a distinct and different morphology. Treatment with DuoDERM resulted in granulomata characterised by a random distribution of dendritic cells, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes and plasma cells. In contrast, treatment with Intrasite HCD resulted in highly organised granulomata, consisting of a central focus of epithelioid cells surrounded by a peripheral cuff of macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells. This experimental study highlights chronic inflammatory lesions that may, if reflected in the clinical environment, question the efficacy and indication of HCD dressings in the treatment of wounds having a number of different aetiologies.  (+info)

Comparing a foam composite to a hydrocellular foam dressing in the management of venous leg ulcers: a controlled clinical study. (4/23)

Venous leg ulcers are the most prevalent form of chronic wounds in the Western world. The principles of moist wound healing coupled with the use of graduated compression bandaging have become the cornerstone of treatment for venous leg ulcers but not all moist dressings are alike. To compare the attributes of a foam composite dressing with those of a hydrocellular foam dressing in the management of venous leg ulcers, a prospective, randomized, comparative 12-week study was conducted in 15 centers in the US, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK. Dressings were changed and compression bandages applied per manufacturer recommendations and dressing performance was assessed at every dressing change and at the final evaluation. Patients with venous ulcers were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks with either hydrocellular foam (n = 52) or foam composite (n = 55) dressing. Healing differences between the groups were not statistically significant, with 36% of patients using foam composite dressing healed in a mean of 66 days and 39% of patients using hydrocellular foam dressing healed in a mean of 73 days. However, the foam composite dressing performed significantly better than the hydrocellular foam dressing with regard to condition of the periwound skin - 55% of patients in the foam composite group having healed or markedly improved surrounding skin compared to 37% of patients using hydrocellular foam (P = 0.03). The foam composite dressing was rated significantly better than the hydrocellular foam dressing ("very good" to "excellent") in level of satisfaction with conformability (87% and 75%, respectively, P = 0.05); being non-sensitizing (73% and 52%, respectively, P = 0.02); and ease of application (93% and 81%, respectively, P = 0.01). The findings reported in this study suggest that the foam composite dressing offers significant improvements in the quality of life of patients with venous leg ulcers as well as for their caregivers.  (+info)

Approach to skin ulcers in older patients. (5/23)

OBJECTIVE: To provide family physicians with an approach to managing skin ulcers in older patients. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Clinical practice guidelines and best practice guidelines were summarized to describe an evidence-based approach. MAIN MESSAGE; Preventing ulcers is important in frail older patients. Using guidelines can help prevent ulcers in institutions. Clarifying the cause and contributing factors is the first step in management. Pressure and venous ulcers are common in elderly people. Poor nutrition, edema, arterial insufficiency, and anemia often impair wound healing. Adequate debridement is important to decrease risk of infection and to promote healing. There are guidelines for cleaning ulcers. Choice of dressings depends on the circumstances of each wound, but dressings should provide a moist environment. Options for dressings are summarized. CONCLUSION: Family physicians can manage skin ulcers effectively by applying basic principles and using readily available guidelines.  (+info)

Clinical results of one-stage urethroplasty with parameatal foreskin flap for hypospadias. (6/23)

We investigated the usefulness of one-stage urethroplasty by the parameatal foreskin flap method (OUPF procedure), which is useful for repairing all types of hypospadias. Between June 1992 and March 2001, the OUPF procedure was performed on 18 patients with hypospadias: 10 patients with distal and 8 with proximal hypospadias. The follow-up periods ranged from 33-75 months, with an average of 52 months. The duration of surgery, the catheter indwelling period, and the postoperative complications of each patient were analyzed. The median age of the patients at the time of surgery was 3 years and 8 months. The length of surgery for OUPF II ranged from 150-230 min (average 186 min), and from 190-365 min (average 267 min) for OUPF IV. Postoperative complications were confirmed in 3 of the 18 patients (16.6%). Two patients had fistulas, and one had a meatal regression. The fistulas were successfully closed by the simple multilayered closure method. After adopting DuoDerm dressings instead of elastic bandages for protection of the wound, no fistulization occurred. DuoDerm dressings are useful in the healing of wounds without complications. To date, the longest follow-up period has been 75 months, and during that time there have been no late complications such as urethral stenosis or penile curvature. OUPF is a useful method in the treatment of hypospadias with a low incidence of early and late complications.  (+info)

Preliminary use of a hydrogel containing enzymes in the treatment of stage II and stage III pressure ulcers. (7/23)

Considerable progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers but they remain a significant healthcare problem, particularly among the elderly. Treatment may include the use of wound dressings such as hydrogels as well as debridement products that contain relatively high concentrations of various enzymes. Unlike enzymes found in debridement products, low concentrations of endopeptidase enzymes can cleave to denatured proteins. Many endopeptidases have been reported to enhance the healing process. To evaluate the effect of a hydrogel wound dressing containing a combination of endopeptidases on pressure ulcers, a 12-week prospective preliminary study was conducted involving 10 nursing home patients with Stage II (n = 3) or Stage III (n = 7) ulcers that had failed to respond to previous treatments. Seven subjects (three with Stage II ulcers and four with Stage III ulcers) completed the study. Healing was based on wound closure by re-epithelialization as determined by area measurement and clinical assessment. All three Stage II ulcers and two of the Stage III ulcers healed completely; four Stage III ulcers were categorized as healing (>60% improvement) after 12 weeks of care. No dressing-related adverse events occurred and subject acceptance of the product, including comfort, was high. These results suggest that additional studies designed to define the possible contribution of endopeptidase enzymes in wound healing are warranted.  (+info)

Artificial barrier repair in wounds by semi-occlusive foils reduced wound contraction and enhanced cell migration and reepithelization in mouse skin. (8/23)

The repair of the permeability barrier to prevent the entry of harmful substances into the body is a goal in wound healing. Semi-occlusive foils, which provide an artificial barrier, are commonly used for the treatment of wounds. We examined the effects of foils on wound contraction, cell migration, and reepithelization. Full-thickness skin wounds in mice were covered with occlusive latex foils or semi-occlusive water vapor-permeable hydrocolloid foils for either the entire, the first half, or the second half of the wound-healing period. We found that application of foils for the entire healing period initially reduced wound healing during the first week of treatment, whereas healing was enhanced during the second week. Foils were found to reduce wound contraction, but enhanced reepithelization during the second week of wound healing because of increased proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. These effects were also noted when the hydrocolloid foils were applied for the second part of the healing period, only. The fully occlusive latex foil led to irritation of the skin, whereas less irritation occurred under semi-occlusive conditions. In summary, we found that artificial barrier repair with semi-occlusive foils in wounds reduced wound contraction and enhanced cell migration and reepithelization without irritation.  (+info)

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