AQUACEL® dressing for surgical wounds
AQUACEL® dressing offers the unique gelling action of Hydrofiber® Technology that absorbs and locks in exudate and bacteria.1
*Artist's interpretation
Hydrofiber® Technology drives the outstanding capabilities of AQUACEL® Hydrofiber® Wound Dressing, Sterile.
BecauseAQUACEL ® dressing incorporates Hydrofiber® Technology, it:
- Provides excellent absorption and retention capabilities for moderate to highly exuding wounds2
- Conforms to the wound surface to form an intimate contact3
- Helps reduce wound pain while the dressing is in situ and upon removal.4-7
- Supports wound healing by providing a moist wound healing environment
- May help minimize cross-infection during dressing removal1
SCHEMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF SEQUESTRATION OF BACTERIA BY HYDROFIBER® TECHNOLOGY
*Artist's interpretation
CLINICAL STUDY RESULTS
Dillon J, et al. 2007 [+]
In a randomized study of 428 patients, comparing AQUACEL ® dressing covered with DuoDerm® Extra Thin dressing (Jubilee method n=242) and AQUACEL ® dressing covered with Mepore™a(standard method n=186), following total hip and knee arthroplasty:10
- There was a 1.5% blister rate in the Jubilee group vs 18.3% in the standard group (P<0.0001)
- Wear time in the Jubilee group was 1.5 days longer than the standard group (P<0.0001)
- The Jubilee group required less than half the number of dressing changes than the standard group (P<0.0001)
- Surgical site infection was shown to be lower in the Jubilee group (0.8%) versus standard group (3.2%) (P=0.03)
Abuzakuk, et al. 2006 [+]
In a randomized study of 61 patients, comparingAQUACEL ® dressing with a central pad dressing (Mepore™,a) for the management of closed wounds following lower limb arthroplasty:9
- 43% of patients in the AQUACEL ® dressing group required dressing changes before postoperative day 5 versus 77% in the central pad (Mepore™)a group (P=0.001)
- 13% of patients in the AQUACEL ® dressing group developed blisters compared with 26% in the central pad group (P=0.22).
Ravenscroft, et al. 2001 [+]
In a randomized controlled trial of 183 patients, comparingAQUACEL ® dressing (covered with Tegaderm™b) with Cutiplast™c, after hip and knee surgery:8
- Wounds managed with the AQUACEL®/Tegaderm™ dressing combination were 5.8 times more likely to heal without complications than Cutiplast™ treated wounds(P<0.00001)
- Only 2.4% of the wounds managed with AQUACEL®/Tegaderm™ dressing combination had wounds with blisters versus 22.5% in the Cutiplast™ group.
- "...dressing pain score is statistically lower for the patients receiving the AQUACEL®/Tegaderm™ dressing combination (P<0.001) [than Cutiplast™]"
- AQUACEL ® dressing (covered with Tegaderm™) requires on average 3.6 dressing changes, whereas Cutiplast™ requires 4.1 dressing changes (P=0.03)
Foster, et al. 2000 [+]
In a study of open surgical wounds in 100 patients comparing AQUACEL ® dressing with an alginate dressing (Sorbsan™,d):11
- Mild or no pain was reported by 92% of the patients in the AQUACEL ® dressing group and 80% of patients in the alginate group
Foster, et al. 1997 [+]
In a randomized trial of 40 patients, comparing AQUACEL ® dressing with ribbon gauze and proflavine dressing in surgical wounds left to heal by secondary intention:12
- Patients in the AQUACEL ® dressing group experienced significantly less pain on removal of the first dressing versus the ribbon gauze group (P=0.006)
- 60% of wounds managed with AQUACEL ® dressing responded that the 1st dressing change could have taken place at home versus 15% for ribbon gauze (P=0.02)
- Pain was a key factor in the ribbon gauze group for patients wishing to have dressings changed in hospital
References [+]
- Walker M, Hobot JA, Newman GR, Bowler PG. Scanning electron microscopic examination of bacterial immobilisation in a carboxymethyl cellulose (AQUACEL®) and alginate dressings. Biomaterials. 2003;24:883-890.
- Waring MJ, Parsons D,. Physico-chemical characterisation of carboxymethylated spun cellulose fibres. Biomaterials. 2001; 22: 903-912.
- Hoekstra MJ, Hermans MH, Richters CD, Dutrieux RP. A histological comparison of acute inflammatory responses with a hydrofibre or tulle gauze dressing. J Wound Care. 2002;11(3):113–117.
- Armstrong SH, Brown DA, Hill E, Ruckley CV. A randomized trial of a new Hydrofiber dressing, AQUACEL, and an alginate in the treatment of exuding leg ulcers. Presented at: 5th European Conference on Advances in Wound Management; November 21-24, 1995; Harrogate, UK.
- Barnea Y, Amir A, Leshem D et al. Clinical comparative study of Aquacel and paraffin gauze dressing for split-skin donor site treatment. Ann Plast Surg. 2004;53(2):132-136.
- Caruso DM, Foster KN, Blome-Eberwein SA et al. Randomized clinical study of Hydrofiber dressing with silver or silver sulfadiazine in the management of partial-thickness burns. J Burn Care Res 2006; 27(3):298–309.
- Kogan L, Moldavsky M, Szvalb S, Govrin-Yehudain J. Comparative study of Aquacel and Silverol treatment in burns. Ann Burns Fire Disasters 2004; 17(4):201–207.
- Ravenscroft MJ, Harker J, Buch KA. A prospective, randomised, controlled trial comparing wound dressings used in hip and knee surgery: Aquacel and Tegaderm versus Cutiplast. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2006; 88(1):18-22.
- Abuzakuk TM, Coward P, Shenava Y, Kumar VS, Skinner JA. The management of wounds following primary lower limb arthroplasty: a prospective, randomised study comparing hydrofibre and central pad dressings. Int Wound J 2006; 3(2): 133-7.
- Dillon J, Clarke JV, Emmerson S, Kinninmonth AWG. The Jubilee method: A novel, effective wound dressing following total hip and knee arthroplasty. American Academy of Orhopeadic Surgeons 2007 annual meeting, San Diego, California
- Foster L, Moore P, Clark S. A comparison of hydrofibre and alginate dressings on open acute surgical wounds. J Wound Care 2000; 9(9): 442-5.
- Foster L, Moore P. The application of a cellulose-based fibre dressing in surgical wounds. J Wound Care 1997; 6(10): 469-73.
Notes [+]
- Mepore is a trademark of Molnlycke Health Care AB.
- Tegaderm is a trademark of 3M.
- Cutiplast is a trademark of Smith and Nephew.
- Sorbsan is a trademark of UDL Laboratories, Inc