Results of a Trial by Marion Moody.  Mphil,  BA,  RNT,  RCNT,  Dip N, 
RM - Royal Bouremouth General Hospital.  2004

Marion Moody,  Mphil,  BA,  RNT,  RCNT,  Dip N,  RGN,  RM - Royal Bournemouth General Hospital,  2004

Trial details:
This was a non-comparative,  single-treatment study.
Patients who had given informed consent were treated for a period of up to six weeks,  or until their wound had healed or changed so as to preclude further treatment with this dressing (for example,  if the wound had dried).
        1. Patients who had given informed written consent to take part in the study.
        2. Patients who had venous leg ulcers,  pressure sores (grade 2 or 3) or who had accidental injuries such as abrasions,  burns or avulsions which had a moist surface with a maximum size that could adequately covered by the alginate pad of the Chemspunge® Wound Dressings.
        3. Male or female patients over 16 years of age.

Exclusion criteria:
        1. Patients with a lesion which was dry or crusted over (unless first debrided by the standard method currently used by the investigator).
        2. Patients with a pressure sore more than 1cm deep.
        3. Insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
        4. Patients who were incontinent and had not been catheterised.
        5. Patients with frank infection of the skin lesion.
        6. Patients with fragile or excessively dry skin which could be damaged by the removal of an adhesive dressing.

RAPID HEALING
Chemspunge® Wound Dressings were found to be satisfactory as a dressing for moist chronic wounds with moderate to low levels of exudate.
The dressing was described as being conformable and easy to apply,  provided that the surrounding skin was seen to be clean and dry.
Chemspunge® Wound Dressings were comfortable in use and could be removed without damage to the wound surface or surrounding skin,  and without pain or discomfort to the patient.
Dressing changes were required approximately twice weekly,  so the amount of nursing time that was needed in this activity was minimal.
Wound healing with Chemspunge® Wound Dressings were rapid,  particularly when the advanced age and compromised physical condition of the patients is considered.
All the wounds were open and exuding,  with some loss of tissue,  but most healed in around two weeks.
The remainder showed substantial improvement and none deteriorated.
None of the patients in this study suffered an adverse reaction,  and no problems with maceration of the wound were experienced.
However,  in a wound which is likely to benefit from the application of a combined alginate and semi permeable film dressing,  Chemspunge® Wound Dressings effectively promotes healing.

Procedure:
Patients were assessed for suitability for inclusion in the study and an initial assessment form was completed.
The age,  sex and underlying pathology of the patient were recorded,  along with the type,  location,  size and condition of the wound.
The wound was cleansed,  if necessary,  with sterile normal saline and the surrounding skin patted dry.
If exudate levels were low, the alginate portion of the dressing was moistened with saline before application.
Dressings were changed with varying frequency,  according to individual requirements when the alginate pad was saturated,  after a maximum of seven days,  if the dressing became detached or soiled or if inspection of the wound was necessary.
At each of the dressing changes the condition of the wound associated with the procedure and the ease with which it was carried out were noted.
At the end of the assessment period,  the condition of the wound was again recorded and the patient was asked to access the comfort of the dressing.

Results:
Ten patients were recruited to the trial (table 1).
Three of the patients with sacral pressure sores died of their underlying illness before the first dressing change,  and could not therefore be evaluated.
The outcome of treatment of the remaining patients' lesions is shown in table 2.
In total,  ten lesions were treated on the ten patients.
Six healed in a period of 8 - 15 days and the remainder of the patients showed an substantial improvement.
Treatment was discontinued either because the wound had healed or because the dressing was no longer appropriate.
No adverse effects were recorded.
The interval between dressing changes changed, from one to eight days, with an average of 3.9 days.
A total of 45 dressing changes were carried out,  but on one occasion a confused patient removed the dressing himself,  so complete recording was not possible.
The results of the dressing change assessments are shown in Table 3.
The patients were asked to comment on the dressing,  but two were too ill or confused to respond.
Of the five who replied,  one patient (2) found the dressing wrinkled initially and was slightly uncomfortable,  but after a few days this ceased to be a problem and the patient then found the dressing satisfactory.
The remaining patients (1, 3, 8 and 9) found it very comfortable and three who had previously experienced other dressings expressed a preference for Chemspunge® Wound Dressings,  commenting that it was more comfortable,  and stayed in place longer,  and that they were pleased that daily changes were not necessary.
Nurse comments were also favourable.
The dressing was found to be comfortable and to adhere well,  even on awkwardly placed sacral pressure sores,  but was easy to remove.
When one patient was facially incontinent,  the dressing effectively prevented contamination of the wound.

Copyright © Chemspunge® All rights reserved.
Patients Recurited
Males
Females
Mean Age
Age Range
Pressure sores:

Ulcerated burns on legs






Sacral
Buttocks


Number

9
1
79years
59-90 years
8
1
1
Table 1. Patients in trial

Table 2. Outcome of patients' lesions

Patient
Number

1
2
3
5
6
8
1
1
1
1

Lesion


Pressure sore sacrum
Pressure sore sacrum
Pressure sore sacrum
Pressure sore sacrum
Pressure sore sacrum
Pressure sore sacrum
Ulcerated burn Right Leg (A)
Ulcerated burn Right Leg (B)
Ulcerated burn Left Leg (C)
Ulcerated burn Left Leg (D)
Size


1.5x1.0
3.5x3.0
3.5x1.5
8.0x6.0
8.0x6.0
8.0x5.0
5.0x4.0
2.0x3.0
1.5x1.5
2.0x1.5
Period Days

10
8
10
15
12
14
41
41
12
12

Outcome


Healed
Healed
Healed
Healed
Much Improved
Much Improved
Much Improved
Much Improved
Healed
Healed
Dressing
Changes

2
4
2
6
5
4
9
9
2
2
Table 3. Dressing changes

Factor assessed Number
Reasons for change

Leakage detached
Adhesion of film
Dressing Removal
Adhesion residue on skin
Algunate residue on wound
Pain at dressing change


7


Inspection
Good
Easy
Yes
Yes
Pain Free


36
44
44
1
9
44


2
3
0
44
36
1


Other
Poor
Difficult
No
No
Unrecorded
Response
Marion Moody Mphil,  BA,  RNT,  RCNT,  Dip N,  RGN,  RM,  is Tutor,  Continuing Education,  Royal Bounemouth General Hospital.

Reference
1. Turner T D.  The Functional Development of Wound Management Products.  Proceedings of conference on medical applications of textiles.  Leeds University.  1981.

Chemspunge® Wound Dressing.

Chemspunge® Wound Dressings are revolutionizing the Treatment of Wounds and Primary Burn Care world wide.