title: Impact of an absorbent silver-eluting dressing system on lower extremity revascularization wound complications.
abstract: Surgical wounds for lower extremity revascularization are prone to infection and dehiscence. Acticoat Absorbent, an antimicrobial dressing, offers sustained release of ionic silver. We hypothesized that immediate application of Acticoat as a postoperative dressing would reduce wound complications in patients undergoing leg revascularization. All infrainguinal revascularization cases involving leg incisions at a single Veterans Administration Medical Center were identified from July 1, 2002, to September 30, 2005. The control group received conventional dressings, while the treatment group received an Acticoat dressing. Wound complication rates were captured via National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. Patient characteristics and procedure distributions were similar between groups. The wound complication rate fell 64% with utilization of the Acticoat-based dressing (control 14% [17/118], treatment 5% [7/130]; P = 0.016). An Acticoat-based dressing system offers a potentially useful, cost-effective adjunct to reduce open surgical leg revascularization wound complications.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliation, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Beverly B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Childress
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Berceli
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: W Anthony
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C Keith
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001458:Bandages; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011091:Polyesters; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015424:Reperfusion; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: C117408:Acticoat; D011091:Polyesters; D011095:Polyethylenes