lucas.conrado – Page 11 – Wounds International

Management of wound biofilm Made Easy

Biofilm research continues to grow and evolve at a rapid pace. It is clear that researchers are still trying to understand the impact of these tolerant microbial phenotypes on wounds. More data are required particularly in the testing of both old and new agents to understand the most effective treatments. When faced with a paucity […]

TIELLE™ Dressings: designed for the real world

Wound healing is a complex process. Normal healing of wounds proceeds through sequential phases that can overlap and vary in length. This Quick Guide looks at three key areas that need to be managed effectively to help facilitate wound healing. Supported by KCI – An Acelity Compnay

Clinical innovation: 2016 wound infection consensus document

The 2008 World Union of Wound Healing Societies Principles of Best Practice: Wound Infection in Clinical Practice consensus document was reviewed and revised by the International Wound Infection Institute. The update provided the opportunity to explore contemporary advances in wound infection knowledge and practice. Awareness of the presence and impact of biofilm has advanced enormously […]

Rethinking self-care management for individuals with diabetic foot ulcers

This paper explores the viewpoint that the traditional or Western model of care has not helped to improve the outcomes of diabetic foot ulcers. The authors suggest that an empowerment model driven by a critical emancipatory approach has great potential to shift the current paradigm, address issues faced by individuals with diabetic foot ulcers, achieve […]

Enabling best practice using the wound prevention and management cycle

Preventing and managing wounds are complicated processes affected by numerous interacting factors. These factors can be intrinsic or extrinsic and might include personal health, skin and wound status, environmental concerns, and availability and access to resources. In combination, these factors can have a profound impact on the development of wounds and can slow or even halt […]

Clinical innovation: compression garments for managing lymphoedema

Lymphoedema is a chronic condition due to a compromised lymphatic system and results in the accumulation of oedema. It can affect patients who have undergone cancer treatments that involve removal of lymph nodes and radiotherapy. It can also present from a congenital defect of the lymphatic system and as a complication of a venous disorder […]

Early findings following an evaluation of two incisional negative pressure wound therapy devices for primary incisional healing and complex incisions that failed to heal with standard treatment

The authors examined the use of a two single, portable incisional negative pressure wound therapy (INPWT) systems for incisional healing and complex incisions that required debridement following surgical revision. A single-centre small evaluation was performed in the UK and, due to its successes, this ongoing evaluation was escalated to three other sites across Asia. Five case […]

Gelling fibre dressing for moderate to highly exuding wounds shows promising exudate management

Chronic wounds often present with excessive exudate production, which must be managed appropriately to avoid physiological and psychological effects for the patient and their wound. BIOSORBTM Gelling Fibre Dressing (Systagenix) is a soft, conformable, non-woven dressing that has shown high levels of absorbency and structural integrity, as well as being comfortable to wear and easy […]

Use of PICO™ to improve clinical and economic outcomes in hard-to-heal wounds

Wounds impose a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems [1,2] and have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Vital to reducing the costs associated with wound care is identification and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds. Failure to recognise when a wound is not progressing to healing increases the cost of treatment and risk of complications, […]

Wounds digest 8(2)

In this section, a brief synopsis is presented of a range of recently published articles that may be of interest to health professionals working in the wound care setting. The aim of this round-up is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary and critique, of the research papers selected. Full references are provided […]

Antiseptic resistance: antimicrobial stewardship and silver dressings

Antibiotic resistance has become a global problem. Antibiotic stewardship has been widely accepted and introduced into clinical practice, but does not include stewardship of antiseptics, particularly those used to prevent and treat infection in chronic wound care. Antiseptics such as polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine, povidone iodine and silver are potent, have multicentric actions and are rapidly […]

An onus on best-practice sharing

To coincide with this year’s European Wound Management Association(EWMA) conference in Amsterdam, we are very pleased that Wounds International and its sister publication Wounds UK are available once again as a tilt-and-turn ‘hybrid’ issue.

Paradigm shift from wound care towards wound prevention and integrated care

Historically, wound care has referred to the diagnosis and treatment of wounds. As a result, insurance companies reimburse for chronic wound care and focus on rapid wound healing as a measure of quality. But is no wound even better than a rapidly healed one? A wound is a defect involving the skin with a pathophysiological substrate […]

Permissive maintenance debridement — the role of enzymatic debridement in chronic wound care

Difficult-to-heal and chronic wounds affect tens of millions of people worldwide. In the US alone, the direct cost for their treatment exceeds $25 billion. Yet despite advances in wound research and treatment that have markedly improved patient care, wound healing is often delayed for weeks or months. For venous and diabetic ulcers, complete wound closure […]

Ten top tips: improving mobility in people with wounds

The past three decades have seen an increasing awareness of the complexity of wound care. Quality of life questionnaires have become an accepted part of a full patient assessment in many specialist clinics, providing some guiding clarification for clinicians and patients with regards to the web of physical, mental and social factors that impact the healing […]

BIOSORB™ Gelling Fibre Dressing in moderate to highly exuding wounds

This International Case Series Report presents six case studies from South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom, which illustrate use of BIOSORB Gelling Fibre Dressing for a range of aetiologies, including ulcerations, traumatic wounds and post-surgical wounds. All of the wounds discussed in this case series presented with moderate to heavy exudate production […]

Making the Case: PROMOGRAN and PROMOGRAN PRISMA

There is an ever-increasing pressure to reduce costs in a challenged economy. However, a sole focus on the cost of dressings without thought for the total cost for a care ‘episode’ could represent a false economy, failing to consider long-term patient outcomes. Advanced wound dressings can help manage the wound environment, improve healing rates, reduce […]

Proteases made Easy

The impact of proteases on wound healing has been widely accepted for some time. This Made Easy discusses how combining technologies and materials to increase product functionality will ensure better outcomes for patients, as our understanding of chronic wound pathophysiology improves. For example, utilising a strategy for excess protease activity that deals with just MMPs […]

Saying hello to 2017 and farewell, but not goodbye, to Suzie Calne

Welcome to the first issue of Wounds International this year. It is all change at Wounds International towers and it is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to Suzie Calne as Journal Editor as she begins her new role as Clinical Manager, where she will focus more on our conferences and new initiatives. Suzie is […]

A wounds wish list for 2017

Some of us have had a long career in wound care, while some of you are new to the field. But whether we can have a long look back or a short one, we all have our individual hopes that specific areas in the world of wound care that we love improve over the course of […]

Reposition patients effectively to prevent pressure ulcers

Despite the widely available guidelines, there still remains considerable confusion in practice about how and when to reposition patients. The mantra of 2-hourly turns still remains a common theme, although there is little evidence to support this frequency. One trial compared the cost of 2-hourly turns with 4-hourly turns and concluded that, despite a small clinical […]

Ten top tips: management of surgical wound dehiscence

The worldwide volume of surgery is considerable, with an estimated 234.2 million major surgical procedures carried out every year across the globe. In Australia during 2010-11, 2.4 million admissions involved a surgical procedure. Wound healing by primary intention following surgery is assisted by the use of sutures, staples, glue, adhesive tape wound dressings or negative pressure […]

From ancient wisdom to modern science: retracing knowledge of mind-body connections in wound healing

Throughout history, the ways wounds have been understood and managed in relation to the patient’s body has altered in line with social trends of the times. Today, the need to find efficient and effective ways to address the growing burden of chronic wounds has fuelled unprecedented advances in scientific knowledge of tissue repair and an […]

Clinical innovation: wider collaboration on lymphoedema research is needed — footwear and gait analysis

Extending teams that research and manage lymphoedema to include orthotists and podiatrists may extend our understanding of the condition and component parts of treatment. New technology, some of which is low cost, enables an increasing range of data and outcome measures. This article highlights the reality of a shortage of studies involving gait analysis and […]

The Scottish Diabetes Foot Action Group 2016 update of the Diabetic Foot Risk Stratification and Triage System

Since its launch in May 2008, the Scottish Diabetic Foot Risk Stratification and Triage System has been successful in improving care. The stratification system has been rolled out across the UK and in other countries, and is an integral part of national clinical guidelines. The Scottish Diabetes Foot Action Group has updated the system to prioritise […]

Meeting report: new research and solutions to postoperative wound care challenges

A one-hour symposium entitled ‘New research and solutions to postoperative wound care challenges’ was held by Mölnlycke Health Care on Thursday 29th September at the fifth congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) in Florence, Italy. The overriding aim of the session was to focus on the challenges of postoperative wound care, […]

Wounds digest 8(1)

WUWHS: Understanding Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, disabling condition that often relentlessly progresses. Occurring in often otherwise healthy adolescents and adults, this rare disease manifests in painful lesions that may cause hypertrophic scars and immobility. Historically, it is often underdiagnosed because patients are embarrassed to seek help for the condition, which significantly impacts on daily life, physically, […]

WUWHS: Role of dressings in pressure ulcer prevention

Recognition of the huge economic, health-related and social burden of pressure ulcers has resulted in considerable efforts to reduce their occurrence. Despite this, pressure ulcers still occur. In recent years, evidence has been building that some types of dressings typically used to treat open wounds have the potential to supplement standard pressure ulcer prevention measures […]

Closed surgical incision management: Understanding the role of NPWT

Substantial numbers of patients develop surgical site infections and other incisional complications worldwide each year. The social, healthcare and wider economic implications are considerable. As the average age of the population increases and multi-morbidity becomes more common, the number and complexity of surgical procedures performed is rising. As a result, reducing the risk and burden […]

WUWHS: Innovations in hard-to-heal wounds

A well-established practical and predictive measure of complete wound healing over the longer term (24 weeks) is per cent change in wound area over the first 4 weeks. However, certain conditions have the potential to delay healing and signs may indicate stalled healing: infection, ischaemia, or abnormal inflammation, with impaired inflammatory response often being self-perpetuating. […]

WUWHS: Local management of Diabetic foot ulcers

Incidence of diabetes among the world’s adult population has almost quadrupled in the past 30 years with 422 million adults worldwide now diagnosed with the disease, according to the 2016 World Health Organization Global Diabetes Report. Within this population, the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is reported to be 4%–10%, with a 1-in-4 risk […]

WUWHS: Management of biofilm

Antimicrobial and multi-drug resistance loom large on the global healthcare landscape, in particular in the treatment of chronic, hard-toheal wounds where current figures put the presence of biofilm in 60%–100% of non-healing wounds. While the role that biofilm play in the chronicity of wounds is still in infancy, it is becoming widely accepted that hard-to-heal […]

Quick Guide: Non-healing wounds

Multiple factors may result in a wound failing to heal along a normal trajectory. This Quick Guide looks at the cycle of non-healing, in particular, how wounds can become stuck in a cycle of persistent damaged tissue, increased inflammatory response, and protease imbalance. Supported by KCI – An Acelity Company

Case series evaluation: PROMOGRAN™ Protease Modulating Matrix and PROMOGRAN PRISMA™ Wound Balancing Matrix for non-healing wounds

This Wounds International case series evaluation presents seven case studies from five locations, illustrating use of PROMOGRAN Matrix and PROMOGRAN PRISMA Matrix in a range of wounds including diabetic foot wounds, leg ulcers, and atypical ulcers. All the wounds included in this study had stalled wounds, which had failed to heal within the expected timeframe. […]

The importance of detecting lower-limb ischaemia

Lower-limb ischaemia is a frequently unrecognised consequence of arterial disease. It not only compromises wound healing, but is a harbinger of more generalised cardiovascular disease. Detection and appropriate management will not only improve wound healing, but also reduce patient morbidity and mortality by allowing proactive risk modification.Ischaemia is an important factor in skin vulnerability and a […]

Underlying biochemistry in non-healing wounds perpetuates chronicity

Wounds may stall during healing for a number of reasons. Regardless of this reason, a shared biochemical profile can be found underlying all non-healing wounds. If healing is to occur, it is necessary to correct the problems in this pro-inflammatory biochemical environment that can perpetuate chronicity, in order to make the environment less hostile and […]

Clinical innovation: the HOSIERY system for compression assessment

Correct assessment or reassessment of patients to determine their suitability for compression therapy, and the accurate measurement and selection of garments are essential if compression is to have the desired effect. The HOSIERY system is an acronym that has been developed to aid healthcare professionals and carers choose and apply compression garments or wraps. HOSIERY […]

Scar management: using silicone-based products in primary health care

Silicone-based wound care products can be used for non-invasive, preventive and therapeutic scar management in high-risk patients. Excessive scarring may be distressing to the individual and may occur even after minor injuries. GPs play an essential role in taking appropriate measures to support these patients physically and psychologically, but approaches in primary care have varied considerably. To […]

Clinician perspectives on time and resources related to dressing changes

Dressing change itself can be a simple process; however, the full complement of tasks surrounding dressing change — e.g. travelling to the patient, assessment, periwound preparation, addressing the patient’s concerns about their wound or dressing, documenting the dressing change — account for a significant amount of nursing time. There is very little up-to-date data available on […]

Management of stage III and IV pressure injuries in a paraplegic patient: the role of natural honey

This article highlights a paradigm shift in the management of decubitus ulcers, since these are usually treated in secondary and tertiary care, leading to large healthcare cost and the risk of acquiring nosocomial infections. The successful management of decubitus ulcers in a paraplegic patient, treated at primary care level utilising natural honey, outlined in this […]

Meeting report: Are you doing everything possible to prevent pressure injury throughout the patient’s hospital stay?

This meeting report summarises the proceedings of two symposia held at the World Union of Wound Healing Societies congress in Florence, Italy (2016). The first symposium focused on the consensus of opinion on the role of dressings in protecting against pressure injury and provided guidance on how to implement changes in clinical practice in line with evidence-based consensus. The second […]

Wounds digest 7(4)

World Union of Wound Healing Societies — invaluable documents for all clinicians

It’s been a strange old year, full of unexpected twists and turns. But in these uncertain times, it is reassuring that the world of wound care continues to innovate and strive for best practice across the globe. While some of 2016’s headlines may be hard to trump (sorry for the pun!), Wounds International enjoyed a brilliant […]

Advances in pressure-relieving surfaces – a new care delivery model: Part 1

Chaired by Professor Keith Harding, this second webcast for 2016, continues our discussion on the importance of optimising resources in pressure ulcer management by focusing on prevention and improving clinical outcomes. Hear from two leading clinical experts as they explore the impact of advances in pressure ulcer prevention. Matt Tite, Improvement Analyst at The Quality […]

Advances in pressure-relieving surfaces – a new care delivery model: Part 2

Advances in pressure-relieving surfaces – a new care delivery model: Part 3

IWII: Wound infection in clinical practice

This update provides an opportunity to explore contemporary advances in wound infection knowledge and practice. Since 2008, scientific and clinical understanding of chronic wound infection has developed significantly. In particular, awareness of the presence and impact of wound biofilm has advanced enormously; however, understanding of its pathogenesis is yet to be clarified fully. A holistic […]

BPA Made Easy

Although the mere presence of bacteria in chronic wounds may not indicate active infection or impaired healing, there is a point at which bacteria do begin to inhibit healing, which can result in local or even systemic infection. This point of pathogenicity is when the bacteria start to secrete proteases. This Made Easy discusses bacterial […]

BIOSORB™ Gelling Fibre Dressing in practice

While exudate is essential for moist wound healing, various problems can arise from excess exudate production. BIOSORB® Gelling Fibre Dressing has been designed for effectiveness at every stage of use – from application, throughout wear and on removal – with a focus on aspects of wound management affected by exudate, including: risk of maceration, comfort […]

Author: lucas.conrado

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