Use of a hydrocapillary dressing in the management of highly exuding ulcers: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and performance of Alione Hydrocapillary dressing (Coloplast A/S) in the management of highly exuding chronic venous leg ulcers and compare it with two hydropolymer dressings,Tielle and Tielle Plus (Johnson & Johnson). METHOD: A comparative clinical trial was conducted on 97 patients with an ankle brachial pressure index > or = 0.8 and a highly exuding leg ulcer. Ulcer duration was at least four weeks. Treatment continued until healing or for a maximum of 12 months. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in healing time or wound area reduction between the two treatment protocols. The test dressing (Alione Hydrocapillary) had better absorption capacity and was more comfortable for the patients than the comparator dressings (Tielle/Tielle Plus) and adhered less to the wound bed.Also, more patients preferred the test dressing to their previous treatment. Although severe leakage and maceration were observed more frequently in the comparator group compared with the test group, this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Both treatment protocols were safe and effective in treating highly exuding chronic venous leg ulcers. The test dressing performed as well as or better than the comparator dressings for all study parameters and more patients preferred the test dressing to their previous dressing compared with the comparator dressings.

[Treatment of chronic skin lesions]. / Tratamiento de las lesiones cutáneas crónicas.

Leg Ulcers as well as Pressure Sore Ulcers are a pathology, although considered different due to their ethiology, that have a common denominator of the possibility to be healed using a moist wound healing environment. Taking advantage of this interesting therapeutic alternative, a multicentric, open, prospective study was carried out in order to evaluate the behaviour and efficiency of the new alveolar tridimensional structure hydropolymetric dressing, in the treatment of both leg ulcers and pressure sore ulcers, all with moderate to high exudate. The results obtained confirm the efficiency of the dressing in the pathology studied, along with the high acceptance of the hydropolimetric dressing chosen by the professionals and the excellent adaptation to the patients needs.

[Pure calcium-sodium alginate dressing. Multicenter evaluation of chronic cutaneous lesions]. / Apósito de alginato cálcico-sódico puro. Evaluación multicéntrica en lesiones cutáneas crónicas.

By means of a descriptive, non-comparative study of a series of clinical cases, the authors analyze the behavior of a dressing of pure calcic-sodium alginate with a stabilizing network in the treatment of pressure sores and profusely bleeding and/or infected vascular uclers. Based on the results of their studies, the authors confirm the effectiveness of this dressing under these conditions: no adverse reactions; the shrinking of the lesion in area or degree of severity; if there is tissue debridement accompanied by sloughing and necrotic tissue, the elimination of infection; ease of application and the reduction of the lesions; use as part of a non-daily cure treatment plan.