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Second generation hydrocolloids. Development for the benefit of the healing. Multi-centre study
Rueda López J., Arboix Perejamo M., Muñoz Bueno A.Mª., Blanco Blanco J., Ballester Torralba J., Gago Fornells M., Fernando García González R.F., Segovia Gómez T.

Introduction: Current or second generation hydrocolloids are the result of biotechnological development, which has allowed the substitution of certain compounds (gelatines) for oils and resins of vegetable origin. Thanks to them, it has been possible to reduce the risk of adverse effects and local reactions secondary to the use of certain wound-healing products, such as irritation, pruritus and/or maceration of the perilesional area. Second generation hydrocolloids have the accumulated clinical experience of the traditional hydrocolloids and bring improvements in aspects such as flexibility, absorption and reduction in the number of wounds caused by adhesives. These are products that facilitate and improve the wound-healing process, in addition to bringing benefits to the patient and the healthcare workers, in the quality of care. In this study, the behaviour and efficacy of the SureSkin^®II range of hydrocolloid dressings is evaluated in the treatment of skin wounds with differing aetiology in relation to the healing rate of the wounds treated.

Objectives of the study: To evaluate the efficacy of the SureSkin II dressings in the treatment of skin wounds with differing aetiology. To evaluate the efficacy in relation to healing, taking into account the parameters of the wounds prior to inclusion in the study. To evaluate the patients’ perception of pain when the dressings are being applied. To find out how acceptable it is to the professional investigators using certain parameters (handling of the exudate, adaptability, etc.).

Material and methods: This is a multi-centre, longitudinal, observational study in which nursing professionals with long experience in the treating of skin wounds of differing aetiology have participated. A total of 37 clinical cases have been included; the duration of the monitoring of cases was set at 10 weeks or until the wound healed. Of the wounds evaluated, 18 are chronic and 19 acute; the aetiology being: 13 traumatic; 4 burns; 5 PUs; 6 venous ulcers; 4 mixed ulcers, 2 vascular of unknown aetiology, and 3 others (2 dehiscences and 1 donor site). The distribution of the patients by sex was 37.8% (n= 14) men and 62.2% (n=23) women.The mean age of the patients for all wounds was 69.31 ± 16.21 (mean ± SD) years; the mean age of the patients with acute wounds was 64.72 ± 18.59 years and those with chronic wounds was 73.89 ± 12.29 years. Tissue present in the wounds prior to the start of the study: 84% have devitalised tissue in the chronic wounds, and 32% in the acute wounds. The length of time the patients had had the wounds prior to the study was 9.37 ± 15.19 days, for the acute wounds and 53 ± 98.69 days for the chronic wounds. As regards pain during dressing changes, 94.4% of the patients with chronic wounds state that the process of changing SureSkin II dressings does not cause them any pain or only slight pain (44.4%). Of the patients with acute wounds, 69.4% state that the change of dressing is painless and 21.1% that the pain is only slight. The average length of time the patients had had the wounds which were treated with SureSkin II, was 38.38 ± 27.36 days for the chronic wounds and 16.33 ± 7.62 days for the acute wounds. Of the wounds included in the evaluation (n= 37), 31 (83.8%) finished the evaluation, 6 (16.2%) did not finish the evaluation; of these, 4 (10.8%) due to admission to other hospitals, 1 (2.7%) due to local reaction and 1 (2.7%) due to death). The chronic wounds treated in the study period (8 weeks) have healed by 72.2%, and the acute, by 94.7%. Among the properties of the dressings described by the investigators, adaptability and adhesion to the area are those which stand out.

Discussion and conclusions: The investigators who have participated in this study have long experience in treatment with and use of MWH products. In this evaluation, the aspects of the SureSkin II dressings which they describe as most noteworthy are its ease of application, its adaptability to different areas of application and its flexibility. These were the qualities which stood out over those of the other dressings generally used. The aspects worth highlighting from this evaluation are the capacity of SureSkin II to heal the wounds treated and the speed at which it was effective; 0.48 cm² healing per day of treatment. These data allow us to state that using second generation HCs means a significant saving in terms of the costs involved in the treatment of skin wounds, whatever the aetiology.