ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2004 December;2(3-4):77-80

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

TenderWet24 in debridement of vascular leg ulcers

Mosti G., Iabichella M. L., Piperni P., Magliaro A., Mattaliano V.

Reparto di Angiologia e Cardiologia Clinica Barbantini, Lucca

Aim. Debridement is the first goal in promoting ulcer healing.
Methods. TenderWet, a multilayered dressing pad containing superabsorbent polyacrylate, and activated before use by an appropriate volume of Ringer’s solution, can be used in debridement of ulcers both infected or not. We used TenderWet24 in 48 patients (38 females and 10 males; mean age 71.8±14.4 years; range from 30 to 93 years) affected by vascular disease and 82 skin ulcers of legs: 23 were affected by venous disease, 13 by arterial disease, 7 by both of them, 5 by vasculitis. In 5 patients with bilateral ulcers TenderWet24 was applied on 1 ulcer and different dressings in the other one.
Results. The granulation tissue appears within 1-2 days; complete debridement occurs in 4.1±1.2 days (range 2-10 days); application and removal of dressing were always painless and dressing was well tolerated; at removal the ulcer bed is “clean” and a further brushing is not required; comparing TenderWet24 with other dressings these induced a minor debridement in a longer time.
Conclusion. Our data show that TenderWet 24 is a more effective and quick dressing if compared with other ones; lack of traumatism, good patient compliance, “clean” ulcer at dressing removal, lack of complications are further advantages; complexity in preparation, poor adaptability in large or irregular-shaped ulcers, need of daily change represent its limits but in a first evaluation the advantages seem exceed the disadvantages.