Mepitel One: a wound contact layer with Safetac technology

Pilot study of minimally adherent silver dressings for acute surgical wounds

Background and Aims

Minimally adherent silver dressings (SILVER MASD) are antimicrobial, nonirritating, provide a moist wound healing environment, and low cost. The purpose of this pilot, single-center, non-blinded randomized controlled trial was to quantify the outcomes of acute surgical wounds treated with MASD versus standard of care (SoC) dressings.

Methods

Thirty-two patients with acute wounds were randomized 1:1 to be treated with MASD once weekly or SoC following surgical excision of skin and/or subcutaneous tissue between September 13, 2016 and November 28, 2017. The outcome variables included clinical infection, time to wound closure, and pain scores at dressing changes. Two independent, one-sided sample t-tests were performed to assess statistical significance.

Results

There was no difference in wound healing between SILVER MASD and SoC. Dressing changes were less painful for wounds managed with MASD silver dressings.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that MASD are not less effective in wound healing compared to SoC while also providing the benefit of decreased pain at dressing changes. Therefore, minimally adherent silver dressings can and should be considered a viable option in the management of acute surgical wounds.

A randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial comparing the performance of a soft silicone-coated wound contact layer (Mepitel One) with a lipidocolloid wound contact layer (UrgoTul) in the treatment of acute wounds

Wound contact layer (WCL) dressings are intended to protect tissue during the healing process. A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to compare 2 such dressings. Outpatients with acute wounds were randomly allocated to treatment with either a soft silicone-coated WCL (intervention group, n = 59) or a lipidocolloid-impregnated WCL (control group, n = 62). At the first dressing removal (day 3), 89.8% of patients in the intervention group experienced non-painful dressing removal (defined as a pain rating <30 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale), compared with 73.6% of patients in the control group (P = .017) (per protocol population). At day 21, wounds were considered as healed in 66.1% of patients in the intervention group compared with 43.5% in the control group (P = .012) (intention-to-treat population). Both dressings were well tolerated and rated highly in terms of in-use characteristics, although the soft silicone-coated WCL was rated significantly higher than the lipidocolloid-impregnated WCL in terms of its ability to remain in place (P= .016). The results indicate that the soft silicone-coated WCL is suitable for the management of acute wounds as it can minimise dressing-associated pain and support healing.

Using a silicone-based dressing as a primary wound contact layer

The use of silicone-based dressings as a primary contact layer for wound care can prevent epithelial stripping, pain and sensitivity and have been widely available for nearly 20 years. Cuticell Contact from BSN medical is the latest silicone-based dressing to add to the armoury of the wound care clinician. Using documented case studies the author explores the reasoning behind why clinicians should consider re-examining the use of silicone dressings.