Abstract

RIUS TARRUELLA, Joan  and  LOPEZ BERTRAN, Ramón. Evaluation in vitro of the properties of six dressings for the healing wet environments of exudative wounds. Gerokomos [online]. 2008, vol.19, n.1, pp.30-40. ISSN 1134-928X.

Introduction: Of the dressings used for healing in wet environments, foam is a type of dressing that is particularly indicated for the treatment of highly exudative wounds due to its great absorption capacity. They are atraumatic dressings that protect the perilesional area and keep the bed moist promoting epithelialization and providing pain relief, thus occupying a very specific space in the care of vascular and pressure ulcers. Material and method: In vitro experimental study to evaluate the characteristics of 6 types of polymeric foam dressings: Non-adhesive (SF1) and adhesive (SF2) SKINFOAM, non-adhesive (A1) and adhesive (A2) ALLEVYN and non-adhesive (B1) and adhesive (B2) BIATAIN. The characteristics assessed were: exudate absorption and control capacity, characterisation of the contact surface, transpiration, conformability and antimicrobial protection capacity. Results: The exudate absorption and control tests show how dressings SF1 and SF2 obtain greater absorption per unit of weight while models B1 and B2 are evidently deformed, and even in the case of the adhesive B2 dressing, the foam padding detached from the adhesive film. The drip experiment could not be carried out with dressings A1 and A2 as the drops of solution could not be retained since the internal contact adherence layer prevents retention. The roughness measurements demonstrated the excellent softness of the SF1 and SF2 dressings, a behaviour that will have a direct impact on pain symptoms. The highest water vapour transpiration rates, particularly for adhesive models, were for dressings SF2 and B1. The easiest-to-extend dressing was the SF1, and bacterial protection was similar in all the dressings. The dressings with the greatest absorption capacity were model B1 by unit of surface and model A1 by unit of weight. The maximum exudate retention under pressure was that of dressing C1 among the non-adhesives (96.79%) and A2 among the adhesives (97.13%). Dressings C1 and C2 presented the lowest amount of free water. The highest rates of water vapour transpiration corresponded to dressings C1 and A2, respectively. Dressing A1 presented the best surface characteristics. All the models had a similar behaviour in all the microbiological tests. Conclusions: The results show that the SF1 dressings from among the non-adhesives and the SF2 from among the adhesives (Skinfoam models) present the best overall behaviour in terms of the properties studied. Regarding the other models, mention must be made of the absorption capacity per unit of surface of models A1 and B2, the retention of exudates under pressure and the minimum amount of free water of model B1 and the results of model A2 in the transpiration test.

Keywords : Foam dressings; exudative wounds; absorption; pain.

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