Abstract

RIERA, S.; BARAHONA, M.  and  ROCHE, E.. Valuation of hydrophilic polymeric foam dressing Skinfoam's^® behavior in the patients' treatment with vascular venous ulcers and pharmaceutical-economic analysis. Gerokomos [online]. 2009, vol.20, n.4, pp.181-187. ISSN 1134-928X.

Introduction: Ulcers from vascular origin of the lower extremities are a health problem, with important socioeconomic and sanitary consequences, as well as high human and material resources consumption. The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of the hydrophilic polymeric foam dressing Skinfoam^® in the treatment of patients with vascular ulcer from venous aetiology, as well as to evaluate the costs of the sanitary activity of that treatment. Material and methods: Observational study of clinical cases, prospective and open, carried out in patients from both sex and age higher than 18 years, presenting at least one vascular ulcer of venous aetiology capable of being treated with an hydrophilic polymeric dressing and giving their written informed consent. The endpoints assessed were the evolution of the wound characteristics during treatment, the data from dressing changes, the global assessment of dressing performance, and the cost analyses, total, per day and per cm². Study results were analysed with summary statistics, showing results in mean and standard deviations, and in percentages. Results: 14 evaluable patients were included, with a mean age of 68.0 years, and a 64.3% were females. The 71.4% of the patients presented type II venous vascular ulcer. Non adhesive foam dressings Skinfoam^® were applied to 92.9% of patients, being adhesive in the remaining 7.1% of the cases. Ulcer healing was achieved by 85.7% of the patients within 2 months in average; while the remaining 14.3% didn't achieve ulcer healing, and withdrawn the study. Global treatment assessment with foam dressing Skinfoam^® was preponderantly of excellent or very good (78.6%). In the 12 patients that completed the study achieving ulcer healing, an average of 8.8 cures was done. The mean time of treatment was of 23 months, requiring a nursing mean time of 20.3 days and 32.7 minutes for healing 1 cm² of the initial lesion surface. The total number of cures necessary for healing a 1 cm² lesion was of 3.3 cures. The healing mean total cost (material used and nursing time) was; of 47.0 € the mean costs for healing 1 cm² of the initial lesion surface were, 16.3 € broken down in 5.8 € for nursing labour and 10.5 € in material. Mean treatment costs per day were 0.9 € Conclusions: The results from this study, eventhough limited in certain way by the small number of assessed patients, allows to point out that foam dressing Skinfoam^® is an alternative to current treatments for patients with venous vascular ulcer, being very well assessed by most of the patients and being cost effective.

Keywords : Vascular ulcers; foam dressing; healing in wet environments; cost analysis.

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