title: Evaluating a superabsorbent hydropolymer dressing for exuding venous leg ulcers.
abstract: A new hydropolymer dressing was compared with an alginate dressing in a multicentre, prospective, controlled, randomised, stratified, open label trial of 113 patients with exuding venous leg ulcers. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the dressings in terms of their ability to handle exudate, patient and user acceptability and cost-effectiveness. Patients were stratified according to volume of wound exudate (moderate/heavy) and randomised to the hydropolymer dressing or the alginate plus a secondary dressing. A statistically significant difference between treatment groups was observed in mean wear time, with a longer wear time observed in the hydropolymer group (3.91 days) compared with the alginate group (3.09 days, p = 0.001). In terms of patient and user acceptability, all 10 overall evaluations made by both patient and investigator were markedly in favour of the hydropolymer dressing (p < 0.001 to p = 0.020). The use of the hydropolymer dressing for patients with moderate to heavily exuding venous leg ulcers has statistically significant advantages over the alginate dressing in terms of wear time and investigator and patient acceptability. It is anticipated that this reduction in dressing frequency will translate into a cost-effective wound treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Institute for Tumours of the Skin, University of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hampton
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages / Q000592:standards*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D011108:Polymers