Influence of superabsorbent dressings on non-healing ulcers: a multicentre case series from the Netherlands and the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To record and assess the application and the progression of wound healing in patients who received Sorbion sachet S or Sorbion Sana wound dressings. METHOD: A convenience sample of patients with chronic wounds was recruited from nursing homes or community wound clinics in the Netherlands and the UK. Wound surface area measurements, pain assessment using a visual analogue scale score, patient affect (mood) and social interaction were recorded using a specifically designed evaluation template. RESULTS: Pressure ulcer (PU) (n=11) and leg ulcer (LU) (n=20) patients had a mean age of 64.6 years and 71.7 years, respectively. Mean PU surface area decreased from 15.27 cm² in week 0 to 7.63 cm² in week 8, while mean LU surface area decreased from 19.43 cm² in week 0 to 7.19 cm² in week 8. Mean PU pain decreased from 3.69 in week 0 to 0.67 in week 8, while pain at dressing change decreased from 3.23 in week 0 to 0.75 in week 8. Furthermore, mean LU pain decreased from 3.45 in week 0 to 1.90 in week 8, and pain at dressing change decreased from 3.4 in week 0 to 1.3 in week 8. The number of patients experiencing a negative influence of the PU on affect reduced from 6 in week 0 to 2 in week 8 and on social interaction from 6 in week 0 to 2 in week 8. The number of patients experiencing a negative influence of their LU on affect reduced from 7 in week 0 to zero in week 8 and on social interaction from 7 in week 0 to 2 in week 8. CONCLUSION: This case series records the response of patients' chronic wounds in terms of wound progress, patient pain and additional psycho-social factors following the application of the superabsorbent dressings and indicates that the dressings have a positive role to play in creating an environment conductive to the promotion of healing in LUs and PUs.

Specific nutritional support accelerates pressure ulcer healing and reduces wound care intensity in non-malnourished patients.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the potential of a high-protein, arginine- and micronutrient-enriched oral nutritional supplement (ONS) to improve healing of pressure ulcers in non-malnourished patients who would usually not be considered for extra nutritional support. METHODS: Forty-three non-malnourished subjects with stage III or IV pressure ulcers were included in a multicountry, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial. They were offered 200 mL of the specific ONS or a non-caloric control product three times per day, in addition to their regular diet and standard wound care, for a maximum of 8 wk. Results were compared with repeated-measures mixed models (RMMM), analysis of variance, or Fisher's exact tests for categorical parameters. RESULTS: Supplementation with the specific ONS accelerated pressure ulcer healing, indicated by a significantly different decrease in ulcer size compared with the control, over the period of 8 wk (P

Prevention of NSAID gastropathy in elderly patients. An observational study in general practice and nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to (i) survey the risk factors for NSAID gastropathy in outpatients (elderly patients in the community), compared to those living in old people's homes or nursing homes, (ii) study the prescription of medication prophylaxis during use of NSAIDs conform the current national guidelines and (iii) survey the influence on gastrointestinal symptoms and safety of pantoprazole 20 mg as prophylaxis for NSAID gastropathy. METHODS: Patients over 65 years of age, using an NSAID without prophylaxis or newly starting NSAID treatment were included in the study. Pantoprazole 20 mg was prescribed as prophylaxis. Patients using an NSAID with prophylaxis being a proton pump inhibitor at the first visit were registered for epidemiological reasons. Demographic data, risk factors, gastrointestinal complaints, and adverse events were collected at t = 0, t = 2 weeks, t = 3 months and t = 6 months. Differences between groups were analysed with Chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests; changes in time in GI symptoms were tested using Wilcoxon signed ranks tests and McNemar tests. RESULTS: One hundred eighty one general practitioners (treating outpatients and patients in old people's homes)and five nursing home physicians participated in the study and a total of 615 patients were included (522 patients treated by general practitioners (GP) and 93 patients in nursing homes). Four hundred thirty two patients were using NSAIDs without prophylaxis or started using an NSAID at the first visit; 269 (62.1%) and 163 (37.9%) patients respectively. 65.3% of the outpatients (224 out of 343) did not receive indicated prophylaxis, versus 76.2% (16 out of 21) in old people's homes and 42.6% in nursing homes (29 out of 69) (P < 0.001). Patients in nursing homes had more risk factors for gastrointestinal complications (2.94 +/- 1.3 versus 1.77 +/- 0.9) than outpatients. More patients using an NSAID prior to the study complained of gastrointestinal symptoms compared to new users (P < 0.001). This seems to indicate that NSAIDs caused these symptoms. After 2 weeks of treatment with pantoprazole, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Moreover, both groups showed improvement in complaints (P < 0.001). Only nine patients in the study population (3.1%) reported mild adverse events (e.g. nausea, headache) with an average of 1.1 adverse events per patient. Five patients (1% of the included population) died during the study period, but there was no relation to the NSAID or pantoprazole. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Patients in nursing homes had more risk factors for NSAID gastropathy than patients in old people's homes or outpatients (>65 years). Although in nursing homes co-prescription of prophylaxis during NSAID use is more common, in general the Dutch guidelines on adequate NSAID use are still not fully implemented at this moment. The results also showed that pantoprazole was effective in diminishing gastrointestinal complaints, as well as preventing symptomatic NSAID gastropathy. Moreover, pantoprazole showed to be a safe and well-tolerated drug in our treatment group.

Economic evaluation of collagenase-containing ointment and hydrocolloid dressing in the treatment of pressure ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of two treatments of pressure sores on the heel: a collagenase-containing ointment and a hydrocolloid dressing. DESIGN: Study and cost data were collected prospectively in a randomised clinical trial in The Netherlands by counting the resource use for each patient until wound healing occurred. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: All 24 female study participants were inpatients from the same hospital with grade IV pressure sores on the heel following orthopaedic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Two different treatment strategies were analysed: a collagenase-containing ointment (Novuxol) and a hydrocolloid dressing (Duoderm). PERSPECTIVE: Hospital perspective. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The average costs per patient for treatment with the hydrocolloid dressing were about 5% higher than those with the collagenase-containing ointment. The treatment costs were similarly distributed within both groups, with 34% for materials and 66% for personnel. The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that cost savings of 899 Dutch guilders (1998 values) per successfully treated patient could be expected using the collagenase-containing ointment instead of the hydrocolloid dressing. In addition, wound healing was achieved, on average, within a shorter time period with the collagenase treatment (10 weeks) compared with the hydrocolloid treatment (14 weeks). The robustness of the results were also tested using sensitivity analyses. These analyses served to confirm that collagenase treatment provides a better cost-effectiveness ratio than hydrocolloid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: With regard to overall costs and costs per successfully treated patient, this study showed collagenase treatment to be more cost effective than the hydrocolloid treatment in patients with grade IV pressure sores on the heel and that the amount of time needed for wound healing was shorter.