An improved and new Advazorb hydrophilic foam dressing (Case Study 3)

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 3

Mrs K was a 77 year old lady who underwent an amputation on her left leg on 26th February 2009. She was known to have Rheumatoid disease, arthritis and hypertension. Mrs K had a non healing ulcer for 3 years and the author had been managing her care for the last 2 years. The right outer gaiter area had a superficial ulcer 6.5cm x 5.5cm, the wound bed was 100% pink granulation tissue and 50% yellow tissue (see figure 5). The surrounding tissue was well perfused. A recent wound swab demonstrated Staphylococcus Aureus light growth and pseudomonas light growth that did not require any treatment with antibiotics. On 1st August 2011 Mrs K commenced on the Advazorb foam dressing for its soft and hydrophilic foam under reduced compression. She continued to have her lower leg washed and moisturised at each dressing change every 4 days.

Figure 5

Mrs K was reviewed on the 5th September 2011. The right outer gaiter area had made substantial progress since her last clinic visit a month ago. There was now healthy granulating tissue and there had been a dramatic reduction in the size of the wound (3.5cm x 2cm), with 100% superficial pink granulating tissue and flush with the skin. (see figure 6).

Figure 6

The wound edges had epithelisation tissue present. The surrounding skin tissue was well perfused and moisturised. The small ulcer just above the ankle had completely healed. Mrs K was extremely delighted with just one month’s treatment. She found the dressing extremely comfortable and easy to remove.

Results

The results of these three patient’s case studies have been reported in full in this poster, with the patient’s outcomes. The patient’s experiences have demonstrated that they found the Advazorb foam dressing very comfortable and shows how the Advazorb foam dressing managed exudate. The patients did not experience any leakage of exudate using the dressing, so no loss of dignity was experienced. The case study on an abdominal wound demonstrated that the wound had produced a moderate amount of exudate, but the Advazorb foam dressing absorbed exudate more effectively than a comparable foam. The orthopaedic case study demonstrated that the wound had reduced in size within a month and the patient reported less exudate on the Advazorb foam dressing.

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.