title: A new high water vapor permeable polyetherurethane film dressing.
abstract: This study summarizes the Ph.D.-research project concerning the development of a new high water vapor permeable wound dressing. The dressing is composed of a 15 microns thin polyetherurethane (PEU) film, which has many non-interconnected cavities to enable a high water vapor permeability up to 20.1 g.m-2.h-1.kPa-1. Since only water vapor permeates through the PEU dressing, the wound exudate underneath is condensed into a gelatinous coagulum. Epithelialization was accelerated by 25% under the clot-permissive PEU film compared with the fluid retaining OpSite film. In clinical situations on donor sites and grafted full-thickness burn wounds, the PEU film indeed prevented fluid accumulation and induced the formation of a "red" coagulum underneath. It furthermore reduces pain significantly compared to conventional paraffin gauze dressing. In conclusion, the optimum environment for epithelialization is a wound, in which the exudate is permitted to gelatinize between moist and dry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jonkman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010539:Permeability; D011140:Polyurethanes; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; C115016:polyetherurethane; D014867:Water