Tag: wound care
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia and wound care
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the critical limb ischemia (CLI) Global Society aims to develop improved clinical guidance that will inform better care standards to reduce tissue loss and amputations during and following the new SARS-CoV-2 era. This will include developing standards of practice, improve gaps in care, and design improved research protocols to study new chronic limb-threatening ischemia treatment and diagnostic options. Following a round table discussion that identified hypotheses and suppositions the wound care community had during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the CLI Global Society undertook a critical review of literature using PubMed to confirm or rebut these hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, and analyse the findings in terms of what in wound care has changed due to the pandemic and what wound care providers need to do differently as a result of these changes. Evidence was graded using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine scheme. The majority of hypotheses and related suppositions were confirmed, but there is noticeable heterogeneity, so the experiences reported herein are not universal for wound care providers and centres … read more
Bionix® Introduces AlphaCleanse™ to Wound Care Line
New AlphaCleanse™ Antimicrobial Wound Care System Offers a More Efficient and Convenient Approach to Wound Care Treatment
TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Bionix® is pleased to announce their new, single-use product—AlphaCleanse™ Antimicrobial Wound Care System with NovaGran™ Hypochlorous Acid.
The all-in-one kit is designed to provide healthcare professionals with the tools for efficient, effective treatment of chronic wounds … Contained in the AlphaCleanse™ Antimicrobial kit are the Bionix® Igloo® Shield and Probe Applicator, NovaGran™ Hypochlorous Acid, and a highly absorbent LiquidLock™ pad. Having all of the components in one kit saves time and protects against the cross contamination that is possible if the user has to search through various boxes for the tools to treat the wound … read more
New publication fosters improved wound care for ulcers, limb salvage, burns, trauma, and more
New Rochelle, NY, January 10, 2012–The rapidly advancing field of tissue injury and repair has an important new forum. Advances in Wound Care will report the latest research findings, innovative wound care strategies, industry product pipeline, and developments in biomaterials and skin and tissue regeneration to optimize patient outcomes. The bimonthly online publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc is an Official Publication of the Wound Healing Society, offering rapid dissemination of the latest scientific discoveries, translational research, and clinical developments in acute and chronic wound care. The inaugural issue is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/wound
The Challenges and Advantages of Office-Based Wound Care
Change in health care is in the winds these days. The current pandemic has allowed us to explore different ways of delivering health care, both in how we see patients and where we see patients.1 Although telemedicine might not be ideal for wound care patients, it opened the door to an option of remote supervision of wound care, which was previously inconceivable. Likewise, the shuttering of hospital outpatient departments deemed “non-essential” as the pandemic raged made office-based wound care look more promising. After all, podiatrists have been doing it for years.2
This article will explore some of the advantages and challenges for those in the practice of office-based wound care. Physician office-based wound care is the new frontier—well, new to the folks who are accustomed to providing these services in a hospital outpatient department … read more
The HealSource™ Clinical Practice Guidelines
The HealSource™ Clinical Practice Guidelines provide a standardized method for the delivery of care, treatment and services to patients with wounds or ulcers.
These clinical practice guidelines are a useful guide when caring for patients, providing general guidelines for the treatment of chronic wounds and the application of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The data relies heavily on three significant and highly respected contributions to the fields of wound care and hyperbaric medicine:
The Wound Healing Society guidelines for the best care of chronic wounds
The Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society clinical practice guidelines
The Oxygen Therapy Committee Report of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society
Advances in Wound Care Technology: What We See Is What We Get … and More
The science of wound care dressings has progressed a long way over the years, especially during the not-too-distant past. As recently as the early 1990s, the main dressings available to patients included transparent films, hydrocolloids, foam, and calcium alginate. Although not incredibly common, moist wound care was also utilized more than many clinicians would care to admit some 30 years later. Standard dressings at the time were wet-to-dry and betadine.
Today, dressing technology has transitioned from a passive to an active role. Yet, the sophistication of dressings that our patients enjoy today would not be possible without understanding the clinical progression that has occurred, even among those treatments that have since been abandoned … read more
Managing the Surge: Delayed Chronic Wound Care During COVID-19
A growing body of research, as well as first-hand accounts from clinicians on the ground, indicate that a significant percentage of patients with chronic wounds have delayed preventative and emergent wound care during the COVID-19 pandemic.1 While it will take time to assess the full impact of these trends, existing evidence suggests delayed wound care can result in more severe infections, increased hospital admissions, and lead to more amputations.2 Therefore, it will be critical for providers, hospitals, outpatient departments, payers and policymakers to understand and plan for a surge in patients with untreated and unmanaged non-healing wounds and related acute-on-chronic complications as a result of delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic … read more
Omeza Receives FDA Clearance for Omeza® Collagen Matrix
First Drug Device Combination of Its Kind for Chronic Wound Care Sarasota, FL, September 2, 2021 — Omeza, a skin science company, announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Omeza® Collagen Matrix through the FDA 510(k) premarket notification process. Omeza® Collagen Matrix is Omeza’s first Rx product, and the first drug/device combination…
Skin closure device aids wound care in a variety of knee procedures
The goals of surgical wound closure include enabling the wound to heal rapidly without infection or complication and returning the incisional region to the best level of function and appearance. How effectively health care professionals use their time in the surgical suite and postoperatively can be a determining factor in the selection of a closure modality … read more
Webinar: Innovations in Wound Care
This 30-minute presentation features learning opportunities that will provide in-depth instruction and demonstration in wound care treatments. After this webinar, the learner will be able to:
- Identify the role of proper wound cleansing
- Discuss how to select and use non-toxic wound cleansers
- Describe advantages of collagen for managing a chronic wound
How Will Wound Care Evolve in the Future?
Wound care is expected to cost billions of pounds annually. Wound management products are estimated to be responsible for almost one-quarter of the costs. New approaches to wound management are discussed in this chapter, along with ways in which innovation will improve patient outcomes … read more
Customized, biomedically applicable materials based on tropoelastin for wound care
Customized, biomedically applicable materials based on tropoelastin are being developed in a joint project by Skinomics GmbH from Halle, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS. The material combines biocompatibility, durability, biodegradability and favorable mechanical properties similar to those of skin. Preclinical tests have confirmed that it is suitable for use as a wound dressing material used in the treatment of chronic and complex wounds … read more
Evidence in wound care
There is an ever-growing variety of products and devices available to practitioners to improve healing rates and patient outcomes, but practitioners should be able to critically appraise evidence to make appropriate evidence-based changes to practice. This position document reviews the available evidence in wound care, looking especially at the critical appraisal of level 1 evidence, before considering the steps required to translate evidence to practice … read more
Pressure Injuries (Pressure Ulcers) and Wound Care
Although the terms decubitus ulcer, pressure sore, and pressure ulcer have often been used interchangeably, the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP; formerly the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel [NPUAP]) currently considers pressure injury the best term to use, given that open ulceration does not always occur. [1] According to the NPIAP, a pressure injury is localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue, usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other device. It can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful. It occurs as a result of intense or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear … read more
Skin closure device aids wound care in a variety of knee procedures
On a daily basis, surgeons are faced with different options for wound closure. Traditionally, surgical incision closure involved sutures or metal staples.
The goals of surgical wound closure include enabling the wound to heal rapidly without infection or complication and returning the incisional region to the best level of function and appearance. How effectively health care professionals use their time in the surgical suite and postoperatively can be a determining factor in the selection of a closure modality … read more
Psychophysiology: Connecting Skin, Wounds, Aging, and Depression
Skin and wound care involves treating the whole person who is wounded, as well as the components of local wound care. Included in the Wound Bed Preparation model, patient-centered concerns are the subject of several articles in this month’s issue.
The original conceptual psychocutaneous disease framework developed by dermatologist-psychoanalyst Dr Caroline Koblenzer1 was further refined by Drs John Koo and Lebwohl2 with three distinct categories … read more
The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential impact on persons with wounds
COVID-19 has dramatically disrupted the practice of managing individuals with wounds.1 Care has moved onto virtual platforms, rearranging the logistics and economics of running a successful clinical practice and research, and in some contexts,2 redefining what treatments patients with wounds can receive (eg, debridement). Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, there has been considerable emphasis placed on the implications for patients with wounds in terms of their vulnerability to the virus and potential exposure in health care settings. Many of these are not surprising since most persons with wounds are in the high-risk age groups for COVID-19 … read more
Startup turns smartphone camera to wound care
The rise of smartphone has led to a whole host of healthcare applications, from apps that pull in EKG readings to ones that analyze skin lesions. But relatively few are focused on wound care, which can often linger beneath the surface of other health problems.
Carlo Perez, an engineer who worked in 3-D graphics for AMD, began to focus more on wound care after co-founding Swift Medical. He had initially set out to build a broader telemedicine app using computer vision, but began to realize the full scope of the problem after co-founder Dr. Sheila Wang, a dermatologist, took him to a wound clinic … read more
Watch Jenny Hurlow’s Report on the Treatment Plan (57-year-old woman who presented with a suspected insect bite)
My goal of care with this six‑week‑old wound on this very anxious patient was to support healing while limiting aggressive debridement to try to mitigate her anxiety. Therefore, the wound hygiene protocol was initiated … I first cleanse the full wound area, including the peri-ulcer skin, with a noncytotoxic antiseptic wound cleanser. Then, I sharply debrided that hard, a sharp cap that you see, and dry fatty necrosis as tolerated by the patient … Then, I refashion the rolled wound edges by abrading the epidermis to promote flattening of the epiboly. Then, I ordered daily dressing changes within an enzymatic debrider … The wound hygiene treatment protocol promotes attention to all aspects of a wound’s healing … read more
Wearable Sensor Measures Light Emission on Skin to Monitor Tissue Oxygenation
Researchers have combined an oxygen-sensing film and machine learning to create a wearable sensor capable of measuring tissue oxygenation through a person’s skin. Developed by researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the sensor works by detecting the phosphorescence lifetime and intensity of the acrylic oxygen-sensing film that adheres to the skin … The researchers said that the wireless sensor can monitor oxygen levels on a continuous basis and is easy to operate, making it suitable for remotely monitoring oxygen levels outside of health care settings … –
Optimising wound care through patient engagement
Patient engagement is a crucial and timely topic, both in terms of wound healing (and, in some cases, symptom management), and in improving individuals’ experiences of the process. This document aims to provide clear guidance in listening and engaging with individuals, and thus optimising the care experience for all key stakeholders, of which the patient is the most important. The document was developed with input from both healthcare professionals and individuals using healthcare services … read more
WOUND CARE Q&A: Progress In Wound Care And Limb Salvage: Yesterday, Today And Beyond
Medicine is a field of continuous innovation, and limb salvage is no exception. Here the panelists discuss their observations and experiences over their years of practice regarding developments that have made an impact for patients, along with their thoughts on what the future will bring … read more
Swift Medical launches integrated digital wound care solution with Homecare Homebase
Homecare Homebase (HCHB), the nation’s #1 software for home health and hospice, is partnering with global digital wound care leader Swift Medical to provide high-quality, cost efficient care through an integrated solution. Through this expanded partnership, Swift Medical becomes the exclusively preferred wound care technology partner for HCHB, with an enhanced integration offering to streamline workflows and eliminate double documentation … read more
Debridement
In the English language, the word debridement is used in the specific sense of cleaning a wound of infected, potentially infected, necrotic (dead), eschar (Figure 1), or foreign material (such as fragments of old dressings). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the word is not used in any other context in English. The word debridement comes from the French language and is even pronounced in English as a French word (de-breed-ment), where it means taking a bridle (the head straps that hold the mouthpiece in place) off a horse … read more
BD Launches Industry First Ready-to-Use Iodine-Based Surgical Irrigation System
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, announced today the availability of BD Surgiphor™ Sterile Wound Irrigation System, the first and only ready-to-use aqueous povidone-iodine (PVP-I) irrigation solution that mechanically loosens and removes wound debris . . . read more
RedDress Selected to Exhibit ActiGraft at Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange
RedDress has been selected to exhibit ActiGraft®, a wound solution that recreates the natural wound healing environment by utilizing the patient’s own blood, at the Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange. Vizient, Inc, the nation’s largest member-driven health care performance improvement company, will hold the Exchange virtually September 21-23, 2021 read more
VIVEX Biologics, Inc. Launches New Family of Allografts, VIAGENEX™
MIAMI, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — VIVEX Biologics, Inc., a leading regenerative medicine company specializing in the development of naturally sourced treatments, announced the launch of VIAGENEX™, a family of amniotic allografts processed to retain the inherent mechanical properties of amniotic tissue and rich supply of extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cytokines read more
Keys To Addressing Forefoot Plantar Ulcerations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates one in ten Americans have diabetes and one in three have prediabetes … Diabetes is also increasing among younger populations and can lead to sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and risk of cancer … One major complication of diabetes is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), seen in 50 percent of the geriatric population with diabetes … continue
Wound care awareness
One in four families has a member with a chronic wound. For this reason, it is crucial for us as wound care experts to educate patients, caregivers and other health care providers about chronic wounds and advanced wound care treatment options … Nearly 7 million people in the U.S. are living with a chronic wound, and the number is expected to grow over the next decade. A chronic wound can be painful, dangerous and scary for patients and drastically affect people by diminishing their overall quality of life and potentially decreasing life expectancy if left untreated …They are also dangerous and damaging to our health care industry. The cost associated with chronic wounds is more than $50 billion annually, and this affects 14.5% of Medicare beneficiaries each year … continue
Music in the Wound Care Center: Effects on Anxiety Levels and Blood Pressure Measurements in Patients Receiving Standard Care
In the United States, chronic wounds (including venous ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers/injuries) affect approximately 8.2 million people as estimated by a 2018 retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries, and treatment costs ranged from $28 billion to $96.8 billion annually.1 These numbers are expected to increase with the growing aging population and higher prevalence rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and peripheral artery disease, in older adults.1 Patients with chronic wounds are reported as having poor quality of life associated with chronic pain and odorous exudate.2 The treatment of chronic wounds in the wound care center (WCC) requires wound assessment, minor procedures, and dressing changes. WCCs provide a specialized level of care using various wound care therapies to promote healing.3 Anxiety has been reported during treatment and may lead to increased pain sensation and stress.4 Pharmacological treatment has been a traditional way to alleviate anxiety; however, this can increase the risk of drug dependency and unwanted side effects.5 Nonpharmacological approaches are considered to be more desirable because of fewer side effects and greater cost-efficiency … continue
May Hope Bloom and Grow
Depending on which part of the world you live in, after a dark winter, May signals the emergence of warmer weather, the birth of wildlife, and the blooming of flowers. In the Southern Hemisphere, the month of May signals the end of warm weather with the promise of cooler temperatures to provide relief. For still others, it marks the beginning of increasingly hot weather. As with so much, our judgments about May change based on our perspective. Our journal is an international journal—and in this issue (print and online) you will find articles from six different countries (Australia, Egypt, India, Korea, Spain, and the US) that address different aspects of skin care and wound healing. The diversity of these international viewpoints can enrich our toolkit for effective practice … continue
2018 Innovations in Neuro Therapies, Wound Management
Injectable Bandages, Biosensors, Skin Electrocardiograms, and Medical Cables – ResearchAndMarkets.com
DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The “Innovations in Neuro Therapies, Wound Management, Injectable Bandages, Biosensors, Skin Electrocardiograms, and Medical Cables” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
The latest edition of Medical Device TOE profiles a wide diversity of innovations impacting the healthcare industry.
This issue identifies and describes early-stage innovations such as neuromodulation therapy to manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implantable sensors for continuous medical monitoring, and bodyworn monitoring devices for mobile cardiac monitoring.
Mature technologies that have been, or are nearing, commercialization, such as drug-coated balloons for peripheral artery disease, and a novel delivery vehicle for timed release of vaccines are also discussed.
Key Topics Covered:
- Neuromodulation Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury
- Pneumatic Compression Therapies for Lymphedema
- Urinary Bladder Matrix for Wound Management & Soft Tissue Repair
- Wearable Headphone to Completely Clear-out Earwax Buildup
- Connected Device for Analysis of Wheezing Trend
- Injectable Biosensors to Stream Medical Data
- Ultra-thin Wearable Electrocardiogram Device
- A Novel Biomaterial to Design Cancer Vaccines
- Novel Drug-coated Balloon for Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment
- Ultrathin Insulation for Medical Cables
- Database of Key Industry Participants
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nb5dbk/2018_innovations?w=4
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Related Topics: Biotechnology, Infusions and Injectables , Wound Care
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Patient Assessment and Wound Dressing Considerations
As wound care clinicians, we need to take into consideration many different factors in deciding on a treatment plan for our wound patients. Our patients should be evaluated on an individual basis. If we look at our patient’s socioeconomic status, we will find it varies from patient to patient. Socioeconomic status clearly affects morbidity and mortality rates related to wounds: wound management tends to be lower in quality and follow-up visits tend to be fewer in number when compared with patients with better economic status.
Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Wound Management
Socioeconomic factors can be big stressors for patients. Patients want their wounds to heal but feel helpless. We, as compassionate health care clinicians, feel the frustration for our patients. Patients miss follow-up appointments because they lack gas money, access to transportation, or caregiver support to assist with transportation. What can we do to help? There are some hospitals throughout the country that have free shuttle services to and from the wound center. This helps relieve the burden for the patient and provides more consistent wound management. Most recently, there are companies that are similar to Uber, but for health care needs. The following list provides examples of barriers to wound management … read more
Wound Care Clinical Trials: Setting the Record Straight
A recent article by Kaiser Health News misquoted me as saying that we enroll only “healthy” patients in our clinical trials. At moments like this, one feels that something has been overlooked. One of my research coordinators, recalling the serious adverse events (SAEs) of the previous week said, “The only patients sicker than ours are underground.”
Anyone who has ever spent more than ten minutes in a wound clinic knows that our patients are anything but healthy. Our acuity levels mirror the dialysis and transplant units. We check the obituaries when our patients miss appointments.
The Chronic Wound Epidemic
Although it should be, this is not just a minor annoyance. A procession of anecdotal observations on the failing health of the wound care space—in a time of flux and disarray—is neither enlightening nor supportive. The article itself focuses on the use of expensive products in wound care. In comparison to other medical specialties, such as oncology or cardiology, our products are inexpensive and cost effective. Chronic wounds are an unacknowledged epidemic. The huge increase in spending has less to do with the cost of wound care products than it does to the staggering number of patients who need them. Why is wound care research so poorly funded? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) does not even have a wound care division … read more
New Products & Practices for Wound Care
Apps, HydroClean and Honey?
According to PR Newswire, the wound care biologics market is expected to earn 1.42 billion US dollars in 2018. That number is expected to skyrocket by the year 2023, when the market is expected to increase to 2.26 billion US dollars.
That is a jaw-dropping amount of money that we’re spending on wound care. What’s going on?
There are several factors that are driving up the those wound care dollars – primarily diabetic foot ulcers, the aging geriatric population, and a general increase in burn injuries globally.
With the ever-increasing number of wounds requiring advanced wound care, there is new products and practices. Here’s a quick update … read more
Wound Care Challenges: When The Lymphatic System Doesn’t Work
Due to difficulty defining lymphatic markers, difficulty visualizing vessels with traditional methods, and emphasis on the vascular system, research into the development of the lymphatics is still in its infancy–with many theories still to be proven. Without a doubt, it starts development in week 5, perhaps from the veins or the mesenchyme. Then, in weeks 6-9, sacs are formed in the neck, groin, posterior abdominal wall, and in the gut. Ducts grow and connect the different sacs while lymphatic vessels grow peripherally to the head, neck, arms, gut, and legs. The sacs become the lymph nodes, except for the upper portion of the gut sac: the cisterna chyli. Mesenchymal cells infiltrate the nodes and develop channels, capsule, and node framework. Lymphocytes appear just before birth in the nodes from the thymus. Lymph organs form from mesenchymal cells and clumping of lymph nodules.
So, from week 5 to the final week of gestation, the lymphatic system is developing. A spontaneous mutation at any point, injury to the fetus, a hereditary malformation, or a preterm delivery can all affect the lymphatic system of a child. This deficit can be apparent at birth, or latently appear at any time in their life, depending on where the deficit is … read more
Dressing Selection: Which Dressing to Choose?
Dressing selections can be overwhelming for clinicians and providers in health care. There are now well over 6,000 wound care products on the market. Ideally, there would be a multifunctional smart dressing that could “do it all” readily available in all settings. Unfortunately, we as health care providers know, that definitely isn’t the case.
Dressing category education plays a vital role in wound management. Knowing the functionality and appropriateness of the dressing is key in enhancing the wound healing process. As wound care clinicians, we want to be in a mindset of looking at our whole patient. However, let’s not forget the Wound Care Basics 101: wound bed preparation, monitoring, patient compliance, appropriateness of dressing, and addressing underlying factors or causes.
Biofilm formation is also a culprit for impeding wound healing. Most, if not all, ulcers develop a biofilm over time. It is reported 60% to 90% of chronic wounds contain a biofilm. Therefore, selecting the appropriate dressing for effectiveness is imperative … read more
Dressing Selection: Which Dressing to Choose?
Dressing selections can be overwhelming for clinicians and providers in health care. There are now well over 6,000 wound care products on the market. Ideally, there would be a multifunctional smart dressing that could “do it all” readily available in all settings. Unfortunately, we as health care providers know, that definitely isn’t the case.
Dressing category education plays a vital role in wound management. Knowing the functionality and appropriateness of the dressing is key in enhancing the wound healing process. As wound care clinicians, we want to be in a mindset of looking at our whole patient. However, let’s not forget the Wound Care Basics 101: wound bed preparation, monitoring, patient compliance, appropriateness of dressing, and addressing underlying factors or causes … read more
Atypical Wounds: Scleroderma, Marjolin’s Ulcer
and Kaposi’s Sarcoma (Part 2)
By Martin Vera, LVN, CWS
Part 2 in a series discussing the etiology, assessment and management of atypical wounds. Read Part 1 here.
As our journey through the exciting and uncharted, choppy waters of atypical wounds comes to a close, I discuss a few more wounds. The purpose and goal of this blog are to create awareness of other wounds that exist and instill the curiosity in my fellow clinicians to get our research done.
This blog describes a few atypical wounds, including scleroderma, Marjolin’s ulcer, and Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Even with the previous discussion of atypical wounds in this two-part series, many other atypical wounds exist, and I encourage and challenge you to educate yourselves and others, continue doing the research necessary to continue the battle to prevent and heal these wounds, and increase awareness to achieve early detection and have better chances for positive outcomes … read more
Origami Inspires New Tech for Tissue Regeneration
Origami – the Japanese art of folding paper into shapes and figures – dates back to the sixth century. At UMass Lowell, it is inspiring researchers as they develop a 21st century solution to the shortage of tissue and organ donors.
Gulden Camci-Unal, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, and her team of student researchers are designing new biomaterials that could someday be used to repair, replace or regenerate skin, bone, cartilage, heart valves, heart muscle and blood vessels, and in other applications.
Using origami as inspiration, Camci-Unal and her team are using plain paper to create centimeter-scale scaffoldings where the cells can grow and then applying microfabrication techniques to generate new biomaterials known as tissue mimetics.
“Paper is a low-cost, widely available and extremely flexible material that can be easily fabricated into three-dimensional structures of various shapes, sizes and configurations,” said Camci-Unal … read more
Atypical Wounds: Scleroderma, Marjolin’s Ulcer
and Kaposi’s Sarcoma (Part 2)
By Martin Vera, LVN, CWS
Part 2 in a series discussing the etiology, assessment and management of atypical wounds. Read Part 1 here.
As our journey through the exciting and uncharted, choppy waters of atypical wounds comes to a close, I discuss a few more wounds. The purpose and goal of this blog are to create awareness of other wounds that exist and instill the curiosity in my fellow clinicians to get our research done.
This blog describes a few atypical wounds, including scleroderma, Marjolin’s ulcer, and Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Even with the previous discussion of atypical wounds in this two-part series, many other atypical wounds exist, and I encourage and challenge you to educate yourselves and others, continue doing the research necessary to continue the battle to prevent and heal these wounds, and increase awareness to achieve early detection and have better chances for positive outcomes … read more
How to Assess Wounds for Tunneling and Undermining
by Laurie Swezey RN, BSN, CWOCN, CWS, FACCWS
As part of a thorough wound assessment, in addition to noting location and measuring size, the entire wound bed should be probed for the presence of tunneling and/or undermining. If you are unsure what tunneling and undermining are and how to recognize these phenomena, here’s an explanation of these terms and how to assess wounds for their presence.
Tunneling Wounds
Tunneling is caused by destruction of the fascial planes which results in a narrow passageway. Tunneling results in dead space that has the potential for abscess formation. To measure tunneling, a probe is gently inserted into the passageway until resistance is felt. The distance from the tip of the probe to the point at which the probe is level with the wound edge represents the depth of the tunnel. Clock terms are often used to describe the position of the tunnel within the wound bed. This is helpful in identifying and remeasuring tunnel depth at a later time in order to assess progress of wound healing. Tunneling can occur in any wound, but it occurs most commonly in surgical wounds and wounds occurring from a neuropathic cause … read more
Wound Debridement Options
The 5 Major Methods
There are five types of non-selective and selective debridement methods, but many factors determine what method will be most effective for your patient.1 Determining the debridement method is based not only on the wound presentation and evaluation, but also on the patient’s history and physical examination. Looking at the “whole patient, not only the hole in the patient,” is a valuable quote to live by as a wound care clinician. Ask yourself or your patient these few questions: Has the patient had a previous chronic wound history? Is your patient compliant with the plan of care? Who will be performing the dressing changes? Are there economic factors that affect the treatment plan? Take the answers to these questions into consideration when deciding on debridement methods.
The Primary Methods of Debridement: BEAMS
BEAMS is an mnemonic that is widely used to remember the five types of wound debridement … read more
The Benefits of Effective Wound Debridement
by The WoundSource Editors
Overview of Debridement in Wound Care
Debridement is essential to promote healing and prevent infection. There are five main types of debridement methods. BEAMS is the common mnemonic to remember all types: biological, enzymatic, autolytic, mechanical, and surgical. In recent years, new types of debridement technology have been introduced, such as fluid jet technology, ultrasound debridement therapy, hydrosurgery, and monofilament polyester fiber pad debridement.
Combining debridement methods has been found to be an advantage in managing complex wounds and different pathological tissues since 2006. One common method of combining debridement techniques is using enzymatic debridement first to liquefy the tissue and then following with sharp debridement. Combining debridement methods in this way can ensure that you are removing as much dead tissue from the wound as possible and helping to promote wound healing.
Chen and Wang studied chronic pressure ulcers that were described as dry, hard, black, crusting eschar … read more
Wound Documentation Standards to Help Avoid Legal Issues
Medical providers, and especially wound care providers, seem to always be under the looming shadow of lawsuits and legal issues. I have written about this before, but it continues to be an issue as I receive requests for legal reviews repeatedly. I have read many charts for legal reviews, and it actually is very straightforward to avoid or mitigate any legal problems.
Important Steps to Take When Documenting a Wound
1. If you have a wound protocol, follow it or document why you didn’t. For example, if your protocol says a bed or chair bound patient on admission is high risk, then treat them as high risk, or document why you didn’t.
2. If you use an assessment tool such as Braden Scale or Norton Scale, be sure you know how to use it properly, and use it per protocol.
3. Document all calls to a physician and the response.
4. If there is a physician order, follow it and document that you adhered to the order.
- For example, if an order says to notify physician if there is blood in the urine and you see blood in the Foley catheter, notify the physician and document that you did notify them and what the response was.
5. If you notice a change in your patient, report it to the proper person. For example: the patient has stopped eating normally, or the patient is acting differently. In an elderly patient this could be the first sign of infection … read more
Edixomed: Breakthrough Wound Care Technology
With Potential to Strike Back Against the Threat of Killer Superbugs
A simple patch which cleverly harnesses part of the body’s own natural repair system – nitric oxide – could help in the fight against killer superbugs and antibiotic resistance according to recently published studies.
Millions of people are at risk of dying from infections every day, many of which can no longer be treated by even the strongest antibiotics.
Now, in two recently published studies, a breakthrough wound care system, created by the UK firm Edixomed, has been shown to kill a range of antibiotic-resistant bacteria including MRSA and E. Coli, both of which have the potential to be fatal for many people.
The discovery could pave the way for these easy-to-use patches to be available in hospitals across the NHS to dress wounds to prevent the growth of bacteria, and tackle established infections.
“Bacterial infections resistant to all currently available antibiotics are expected to kill over 10 million people a year by 2050. The threat is very real and of international concern; but with this technology, we have a novel, viable and innovative solution with which to strike back. Wound care is just the first of many potential applications,” said Professor Art Tucker, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He added, “Importantly, nitric oxide acts against multiple targets in bacteria to kill them, hence there is a very unlikely chance of bacteria developing resistance any time in the future.”
In addition, Edixomed’s breakthrough, the EDX110 wound care system, is able to deliver nitric oxide in a sustained way to give the wound or ulcer the best chance of healing. As part of the natural healing process the body normally produces nitric oxide and uses it to signal for increased blood flow and to fight infection. Edixomed’s technology effectively “supercharges” the body’s own natural healing processes.
In fact, recently published clinical research in diabetic foot ulcers, including infected ulcers, showed that the EDX110 patch achieved the same healing in 4 weeks as the standard-of-care approaches currently used in UK hospitals achieved at 12 weeks. The standard-of-care patients were also significantly more likely to be hospitalised due to complications with their foot ulcer.
“Diabetic foot ulcers are notoriously hard-to-heal and are the leading cause of diabetes-related amputations in the UK. The recently published findings provide an essential step forward in developing solutions for the effective management of these chronic wounds,” said Professor Michael Edmonds, Principal Investigator of the pivotal diabetic foot ulcer study, King’s College Hospital, London. He added, “Reducing infection and accelerating healing could significantly contribute to a reduction in the number of avoidable amputations. EDX110 represents a major step forward in best practice care.”
In severe cases, infection of a foot ulcer in a patient with diabetes can result in lower limb amputation or worse e.g. complications such as sepsis, multi-organ failure and death.
Facts:
- The NHS carries out more than 7,300 amputations each year in the UK as a result of diabetes, 80% of these are due to foot ulcers.[4] The resulting drain on healthcare resources is enormous, with an annual cost of £1 billion to NHS England alone.[5]
- At least 700,000 people die globally from drug-resistant infections every year – 5,000 of them in the UK.[6],[7]
- There have been no new classes of antibiotics approved since the 1980s and the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies warned in 2017 that resistance to antibiotics “poses a catastrophic threat”.[8]
Key findings of the two recent studies investigating EDX110, a revolutionary new wound care system:
- Laboratory tests have shown that EDX110 can kill all viable organisms for several deadly antibiotic-resistant infections including MRSA, Pseudomonas and E. Coli.[3]
- Laboratory tests have shown that EDX110 effectively prevented and treated multi-drug resistant bacteria biofilms. Biofilms are colonies of bacteria that protect themselves from the body’s immune system and actions of antibiotics.[3]
- EDX110 completely healed more ulcers compared with standard-of-care (ulcers completely healed: 49% vs. 30%).[2]
- EDX110 reduced diabetic foot ulcer size by almost double the amount of standard-of-care (median percentage area reduction: 89% vs. 47%).[2]
About Edixomed
Edixomed is a biopharmaceutical company commercialising next generation and clinically-proven technologies from its nitric oxide platform. Using its patented scientific approach, the company’s technologies have the potential to tackle major global health challenges in wound care, dermatology and infection control. The core technology’s unique feature is its ability to replenish or supplement the body’s own supply of nitric oxide that is critical for sustaining healthy skin and organs. Nitric oxide is depleted or absent in many diseases and thus, the body’s normal healing and regenerative processes are damaged. Restoring that essential element is at the heart of Edixomed’s approach to innovative healthcare.
About EDX110
EDX110 is a revolutionary, easy-to-use, two-part wound care system, driven by Edixomed’s core sustained-release nitric oxide delivery technology. EDX110 provides a protective and cushioning layer that uniquely absorbs fluid while providing a moist environment and generating nitric oxide. The role of nitric oxide in ulcer healing involves three recognised elements: vascular, as nitric oxide influences the widening of blood vessels (vasodilation) and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis);[9],[10] inflammatory, as nitric oxide influences the body’s immune response;[11] and antimicrobial, as nitric oxide demonstrates potent, broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.
EDX110 is not yet an approved product, Edixomed are pursuing an active programme to develop applications of their core technology in multiple wound care indications and a number of additional areas. These areas include: surgical wound care, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, burns, septic shock, transdermal drug delivery, ventilator-associated pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and various applications connected to antimicrobial resistance.
About nitric oxide
The discovery that a simple gas, nitric oxide, could play such an important role in the human body led to three scientists being awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1998. The pioneering work demonstrated that the normal function of nitric oxide is to control blood flow in the small vessels in the skin and prevent the skin from being infected with dangerous organisms. Nitric oxide is also generated whenever the skin is injured or damaged and plays a crucial part in the normal skin healing process. However, in certain conditions, such as diabetes, the normal production of nitric oxide can be put at risk and the skin loses the essential ingredient it needs to repair itself. The result is a chronic, poorly healing wound, highly prone to infection and a major cause of concern to patients and doctors. Replenishing the missing nitric oxide in such a way as to mimic the skin’s natural production is no easy task and it has eluded many of the world’s leading scientists for the past two decades. Edixomed has succeeded in achieving this goal and has demonstrated the performance of its technology in a pivotal clinical trial.
You can also visit our website at: http://www.edixomed.com
Organogenesis Showcases New Product Offerings
and Research at SAWC Spring 2018
CANTON, Mass. and CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The latest advanced wound care research and product offerings from Organogenesis Inc. – including the recently-launched PuraPly® Antimicrobial 1.6 cm small size – will be showcased during the nation’s largest interdisciplinary wound care forum, the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring | Wound Healing Society (SAWC Spring | WHS) meeting, held April 25-29 in Charlotte, NC.
Organogenesis Inc., a leading regenerative medicine company focused on the development, manufacture and commercialization of product solutions for the advanced wound care, surgical and sports medicine markets, will feature its full suite of advanced wound care and surgical biologic product offerings at exhibit booth #419.
Scientific presentations will feature several products within the Organogenesis portfolio, and exhibit booth attendees will have the chance to learn more about the company’s comprehensive wound care portfolio designed to empower personalized healing for a wide variety of wound types across the wound care continuum.
Organogenesis is also a proud sponsor of the Thursday, April 26 Lunch Symposium, “Understanding the Latest Evidence: A Fresh Look at the Use of Skin Substitutes Across the Wound Care Continuum,” featuring speakers Daniel Kapp, MD; George Koullias, MD; and Katie C. Mowry, PhD.
Medline to Highlight Holistic Approach to Wound Care
and Skin Health at Symposium on Advanced Wound Care
NORTHFIELD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medline today announced the launch of a new Skin Champion Program at this year’s Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) in Charlotte, April 25-29. With more than 6.5 million people in the U.S. suffering from chronic wounds, the Medline Skin Champion Program will provide new approaches to those who battle and treat non-healing wounds across the continuum of care and provide easy-to-use education and tools for wound care clinicians and leaders.
Medline also will host a live studio news show from SAWC, featuring nearly 20 key advanced wound care and tissue regeneration opinion leaders who will provide clinical expertise and insight to the more than 2,000 physicians and nurses visiting the conference.
“Wound care has become increasingly complex with the rise in patient acuity and ongoing reimbursement challenges,” says Jonathan Primer, group president, advanced wound care, Medline. “For clinicians, this new landscape is creating greater demand for education and fueling a deeper desire to discover new ways to improve clinical practice and patient care.”
Located at booth 1025, Medline will unveil the new Skin Champion Program developed by certified WOC nurses and designed to provide education and tools that help train their teams to make skin health second nature. Dozens of pre-built educational modules address four common issues impacting wound care, including pressure injuries, skin care, wound etiologies and special populations.
HMP’s Why Wound Care?™
Initiative Launches Web Portal for Medical Students
MALVERN, PA. (PRWEB) APRIL 09, 2018
In an effort to further prepare medical professionals about the proper management and treatment of patients with wounds, HMP, a leading healthcare event and education company, today announced the launch of a new web portal designed exclusively for medical students as part of its Why Wound Care? (WWC) initiative.
Created in 2015, the Why Wound Care? initiative informs medical and nursing students, recent graduates, and faculty about rewarding careers in wound care while offering educational resources to supplement current academic curricula where wound care education may be limited.
With the development of the new portal, medical students and faculty now have access to the following complimentary, evidence-based wound care resources:
-Sixteen video modules covering the fundamentals of wound care, including
Burns, Surgical Wound Closure, Wound Epidemiology, Pressure Injuries, Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Atypical Wounds, Wound Infections, and more;
-Downloadable PDF’s of all 25 chapters of Chronic Wound Care: The Essentials e-Book, the “gold standard” of wound care textbooks;
-Information about other continuing education resources, including wound care conferences and medical journals.
“The launch of the medical student portal greatly expands the scope of our Why Wound Care? initiative,” said Peter Norris, executive vice president, HMP. “Three years ago, we introduced WWC to nursing students. Since then, the portal has become a go-to source of free wound care content with thousands of visitors accessing modules and other materials. With the addition of the medical student portal, we are able to extend the reach of wound care education to new audiences to ultimately help improve the care of patients who suffer from acute or chronic wounds.”
The WWC medical student advisory board—comprised of 16 world-class wound care physician specialists affiliated with some of the top medical schools in the U.S., including Harvard, Penn, Stanford, Columbia, Miami, and Georgetown—contributed to the development of the materials.
“This project represents our opportunity to give back to future generations of medical students,” said Robert Kirsner, MD, PhD, Chair and Harvey Blank Professor, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and chair, WWC medical student advisory board. “For more than 30 years, I’ve had the good fortune to practice wound care, conduct research, and educate students, residents, and fellows as a faculty member at the University of Miami. Wound care will only receive increased attention in clinical practice due to the aging population and the rising incidences of Diabetes Mellitus and obesity. Medical students now have an excellent resource by which to learn more about wound care to either better educate themselves about evidence-based treatment and management of chronic wounds, or to consider becoming a practicing wound care physician.”
To learn more about Why Wound Care?, or to take advantage of these free resources, please visit whywoundcare.com.
About HMP
HMP is the force behind Healthcare Made Practical—and is a multichannel leader in healthcare events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America’s largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.
Original release from PRWeb
Fresh hypothermically stored amniotic allograft in …
the treatment of chronic nonhealing ulcers: a prospective case series
Introduction Millions suffer from diffcult to heal ulcers worldwide. The incidence of chronic ulcers is increasing rapidly, fueled by an aging population, rising incidence in obesity, diabetes, and venous insuffciency. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), VLUs, and nonhealing postsurgical wounds are among the most frequently encountered ulcers in wound care practice. In the United States, over 4.3 million diabetic patients will develop a DFU in their lifetime, and ~2.5 million individuals suffer from VLUs. DFUs add 1–4 $9–$13 billion to the direct yearly cost associated with diabetes itself. The annual 5 cost of VLUs is $2.5–$3.5 billion. Nonhealing surgical wounds are also commonly 6 seen in wound care clinics. Surgical wounds pose an increased risk for infection and contribute to the growing economic burden of wound care management.
In recent years, several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate products derived from human amniotic membranes (HAMs) as adjunctive therapies to accelerate of different layers – the epithelium, basement membrane, and stroma – and these layers further consist of three contiguous but distinct layers – the inner compact layer, the middle fbroblast layer, and the outermost spongy layer. The HAM has been shown to have anti-infammatory, antifbrotic, antiangiogenic as well as antimicrobial properties. Research has confrmed that growth factors present in amniotic membranes can induce angiogenesis and human dermal fbroblast proliferation as well as recruit multiple stem cells relevant to wound repair and regeneration. 9,10
A fresh hypothermically stored amniotic allograft (HSAM) may improve healing rates by preserving growth factors and living cells, including stem cells, as well as retaining the membrane’s native structure. HSAM is aseptically processed and stored in a proprietary hypothermic storage solution using the Allofresh™ (Organogenesis, Canton, MA, sisting of topical antimicrobials. His comorbidities consisted USA) process. 13
Methods
A case study was conducted to evaluate an HSAM (Organogenesis) in the treatment of chronic wounds. Information was collected on patient demographics, wound type, wound location, age of wound, comorbidities, previous treatments, and current treatments. All patients were informed of study procedures and consented to have their case details and any accompanying photographs published. Digital planimetry (ARANZ Medical, Christchurch, New Zealand) was used ateach visit to record the wound surface area. Previous and current treatments were recorded. Two of the patients presented with VLU and one had a postsurgical wound.
The VLU patients had previously received compression, and one patient had also received negative pressure wound therapy. The one with a surgical wound had received a variety of previous therapies, including topical silver, Hydrofera Blue, and topical antibiotics. The age of the wounds for the VLUs were 2–3 weeks, while the surgical wound was 5 months. Comorbidities for the VLUs consisted of venous insuffciency, diabetes, arthritis, osteomyelitis to ulcer location, hypertension, and lymphedema. Comorbidities for the surgical wound patient consisted of arthritis and hypertension. The new treatment regimen consisted of HSAM covered with a knotted cellulose acetate fabric dressing (Adaptic ; Acelity, San Antonio, TX, USA) and appropriate standard of care, including offoading, multilayer compression, and of care, including offoading, multilayer compression, and surgical debridement.
Findings
Case 1
A 62-year-old patient presented to the wound clinic with a postop foot wound (nondiabetic), right foot dorsum. The duration of the wound was 5 months, with previous treatments consisting of topical antimicrobials. His comorbidities consisted of arthritis and hypertension. On day 0, the wound area size measured 3.3 cm , with 50% granulation, 10% fbrin, 40% slough, and a moderate amount of light red/pink serosanguineous drainage. Moderate edema was present. A 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm HSAM was applied and fxed in place using Steri-Strips™ (McKesson Medical-Surgical, Londonderry, NH, USA). On day 21, the wound area reduced to 2.9 cm2, a 12.12% reduction. There was an increase in the percentage of granulation tissue as well. By day 42, the wound area size had reduced by 81.82% with 100% granulation, and healed on day 71 (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Case 1 surgical wound.
Note: (A) Day 0, 3.3 cm2 ; (B) day 71, 0 cm2.
Case 2
A 57-year-old patient presented with a left lower extremity VLU on the medial malleolus. The wound had been present for 8 weeks. The treatment thus far consisted of compression and topical antimicrobials. His past medical history included chronic venous insuffciency, peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, and hyperlipidemia. On day 0, the wound area measured 0.3 cm . HSAM (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm) was applied and held in place with Steri-Strips™ ( McKesson Medical-Surgical) and compression wrap. On day 7, the wound was completed closed with no drainage (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Case 2 venous leg ulcer.
Note: (A) Day 0, 0.3 cm2; (B) day 7, 0 cm2.
Case 3
A 70-year-old patient presented with a VLU on the medial right lower extremity. The wound had been present for 2 weeks. The medical history obtained from this patient revealed hypertension, lymphedema, type II diabetes, and chronic venous insuffciency. At the time of HSAM (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm) application, the wound area measured 1.0 cm . By day 7, the wound area was reduced to 0.4 cm , and by day 14, it achieved complete closure (Figure 3).
Figure 3 Case 3 venous leg ulcer.
Note: (A) Day 0, 1.0 cm2; (B) day 14, 0 cm2
Discussion
Prompt treatment of chronic ulcers is essential in preventing complications, reducing the cost of care, and lessening the economic burden on the health care system. In clinical studies, amniotic membranes have been shown to be effective in promoting healing in chronic wounds. Prior products consisted of dehydrated products. We postulated that fresh amniotic membrane would demonstrate even greater effect. Prior to embarking on large expensive clinical trials, we tried the fresh amniotic product on a few selected patients. Results from this study suggested that HSAM may be an effective treatment option for management of VLUs and other non-healing wounds. HSAM offers a new treatment alternative to promote healing in chronic wounds. This membrane contains numerous growth factors and cytokines. These growth factors are found to be released over an extended period and result in increased cellular migration, proliferation, and remodeling. Moreover, HSAM may reduce the long-term costs associated with the care of chronic ulcers by increasing the healing rate and lowering the risk of infection and complications This pilot case series was subsequently used to inform larger DFU and VLU trials that are ongoing at the time of this writing.
Initiative Launches Web Portal for Medical Students
Free resources provide education on chronic wound management
In an effort to further prepare medical professionals about the proper management and treatment of patients with wounds, HMP, a leading healthcare event and education company, today announced the launch of a new web portal designed exclusively for medical students as part of its Why Wound Care? (WWC) initiative.
Created in 2015, the Why Wound Care? initiative informs medical and nursing students, recent graduates, and faculty about rewarding careers in wound care while offering educational resources to supplement current academic curricula where wound care education may be limited.
With the development of the new portal, medical students and faculty now have access to the following complimentary, evidence-based wound care resources:
-Sixteen video modules covering the fundamentals of wound care, including
Burns, Surgical Wound Closure, Wound Epidemiology, Pressure Injuries, Diabetic Foot Ulcers … read more
Wound care education in the developing world
The increasing burden of wound care is a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide (Sen et al, 2009). In developing countries, there is insufficient capacity to meet patient requirements. Inadequate wound care is not, however, without consequences. In many developing countries, treatable injuries and wounds are the leading cause of death and disability in the under 60s.
Extent of the wound care burden In 2013, over 10% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty on less than $1.90 per day (World Bank Group, 2016). A minimum of US$44 per capita is required per year to provide basic life-saving health services, however 26 World Health Organization (WHO) states spend less than this, with Eritrea spending the least at US$12 per person (WHO, 2014). Moreover, it is estimated that up to half the world’s population lacks access to basic wound care (Meara et al, 2015), although there is scant literature concerning its epidemiology and natural history, cost-effectiveness or the delivery of services … read more
Wound Care Education Institute Launches Pioneering Nutrition Wound Care Course
BROOKFIELD, Wis., March 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — To help Registered Dietitians (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) prepare for board certification in wound care, Wound Care Education Institute (WCEI) has launched a tailored Skin and Wound Management course suited for the RD and RDN. The course reinforces knowledge with real-world, practical skin and wound management training while preparing the RD and RDN for the Nutrition Wound Care Certified (NWCC) certification.
“The course addresses the need for nutritionists on the wound care team and can help an RD or RDN become a nutrition wound care expert,” said WCEI Co-Founder/Clinical Instructor Nancy Morgan, RN, BSN, MBA, WOC, WCC, DWC, OMS.
Poor nutrition can have a substantial negative effect on the ability to build new tissue and defend against infection. A patient’s nutritional needs can change in the presence of wounds reinforcing the body’s requirement for a proper mix of both macro and micronutrients during wound healing. Patients with chronic and non-healing wounds often have special nutrient needs as well as other healing obstacles at play … read more
Efficacy of an imaging device at identifying the presence of bacteria in …
… wounds at a plastic surgery outpatients clinic
Current standard diagnostic practice of bacterial infections by visual inspection under white light is subjective, and microbiological sampling is suboptimal due to high false negative rates and the lengthy time needed for culture results to arrive. The MolecuLight i:X Imaging Device attempts to combat the issues faced in standard practice by providing a non-contact, real-time method of visualising bacteria within wounds. Our aim was to test this imaging device in a series of patients … read more
Development of a generic wound care assessment minimum data set
At present there is no established national minimum data set (MDS) for generic wound assessment in England, which has led to a lack of standardisation and variable assessment criteria being used across the country. This hampers the quality and monitoring of wound healing progress and treatment.
The project comprised 1) a literature review to provide an overview of wound assessment best practice and identify potential assessment criteria for inclusion in the MDS and 2) a structured consensus study using an adapted Research and Development/University of California at Los Angeles Appropriateness method. This incorporated experts in the wound care field considering the evidence of a literature review and their experience to agree the assessment criteria to be included in the MDS … read more
The Best and Worst Ideas for Open Wounds
Using the right open wound treatment can mean the difference between quick recovery and prolonged healing, excess scars, intense pain, increased risk of infection, or more. Unfortunately, a number of misconceptions and confusions surround open wound care, mostly due to persistent common wound treatment myths and old wives’ tales.
To help set the record straight and ensure that you will have a favorable healing process, here are some of the right and wrong strategies to use when managing your open wound treatment.
Good Idea: Cleaning the Wound Immediately with Mild Solutions
Infections are caused not only by exposure to bacteria and pathogens, but also from contact with the surface that caused the wound. For example, a tree branch that caused an abrasion could have bacteria on its surface, as could a kitchen knife that caused an skin puncture.
Flush the wound surface and interior as you can with a mild solution. A saline solution made from a small amount of salt diluted in water works well since it mimics your body’s internal pH. You can also use mild or diluted soap in water works well or some purified water, then wipe the surface with clean gauze.
Take notice of any debris that may be lodged in the wound and remove it with sterile tweezers if possible. If the debris is deep or dispersed, you should seek emergency care.
Bad Idea: Using Strong Antiseptics to Wash Wounds
Conventional wisdom suggests using disinfectants and antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine to clean open wounds. Most of these substances are better suited for disinfecting household surfaces and are far too harsh for use on human tissue. They are more likely to damage tissue than help it heal … read more
Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers
Compression therapy is the mainstay of treatment of venous leg ulcers (VLU). Good wound care and compression therapy will heal majority of small venous ulcers of short duration.[1] Goals of compression therapy are ulcer healing, reduction of pain and edema, and prevention of recurrence.[2] Compression is used for VLU and narrows veins and restores valve competence and reduces ambulatory venous pressure, thus reducing venous reflux (VR). It also helps decrease inflammatory cytokines, accelerates capillary flow, and lowers capillary fluid leakage thereby alleviating limb edema. It also softens lipodermatosclerosis, improves lymphatic flow and function, and enhances fibrinolysis.
Indications
The aim of compression therapy is to improve the venous function without compromising arterial function.
Contraindications
The contraindications of compression therapy are the following[4,5]
-
Advanced peripheral obstructive arterial disease (ankle brachial pressure index [ABPI] <0.8) (Evidence level A)
-
Systemic arterial pressure <80 mm Hg at ankle
-
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens
-
Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
-
Abscesses
-
Septic phlebitis
-
Advanced peripheral neuropathy.
Thoughts on Cross Contamination in Wound Care
by Michel H.E. Hermans, MD
A recent article in Mayo Clinic’s Proceedings1 studies contamination of stethoscopes. After a standardized physical examination, several parts of the physicians’ hand were cultured and the results were compared to cultures of the stethoscope diaphragm and tube. As it turned out, fingertip contamination was highest but the diaphragm of the stethoscope showed a higher level than the thenar eminence of the physician’s hand. The conclusion of the article stated that the stethoscope may play a serious role in cross contaminating patients.
The study was executed well and the conclusion valid, which thus raises the question: what do we do about it? Wipe the entire stethoscope (the tubes were contaminated as well), use a diaphragm cover or a separate stethoscope for each patient?
This type of study is not new. The authors themselves quoted a series of similar articles, with one going back to 1972.2 Other studies have shown similar threats from neckties3,4 and white coats. Guidelines on how to minimize the chance of cross contamination are abundant and have been around for a long time. Most hospitals have their own guidelines, many of them based on those issued by the World Health Organization … read more
Wound Care Advantage Introduces the First Referral Source Algorithm in the …
SIERRA MADRE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The prevalence of chronic wounds in the U.S. now impacts 6.5* million people, similar to the number of individuals diagnosed with heart failure. To help its partners increase awareness of their wound care programs in local communities, Wound Care Advantage (WCA) has launched FlightPlan™, the industry’s first referral source algorithm. FlightPlan makes it easy to identify local physicians treating patients who may be in need of advanced wound treatment.
“We look for smart ways to develop and integrate technology into all areas of our organization,” said Nick Keezer, CTO of Wound Care Advantage. “FlightPlan was designed around three main objectives: to identify providers or physicians with patients who may need specialized care; to reduce the time it takes for a wound program to connect with the local community; and to better track and manage community education efforts.”
Finding local patients that need wound care, when they need it, can be a major challenge for wound center management … read more
Iran Unveils Indigenous Polymer Wound Care Dressing
Iranian scientists have managed to produce an artificial vessel and a type of wound care dressing using polymeric materials.
The two technological developments were unveiled in a ceremony attended by the Head of Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI) Mehdi Nekouhesh.
The polymer wound care dressing was invented as part of larger plan to find a treatment for a particular type of skin wounds, a Farsi report by Mehr said … read more
Wound Care Manual and Clinical Guidelines for Nurses
When faced with a complex instance of wound care, many first time or novice clinicians will ask, ‘What wound is this? What dressing should I use? How will this wound heal?’
An aspect of wound care management often overlooked is defining the wound itself. The guiding principles of wound care have always been focused around defining the wound, identifying any associated factors that may influence the healing process, then selecting the appropriate wound dressing or treatment device to meet the aim and aid the healing process.
This structured approach is essential, as the most common error in wound care management is rushing in to select the latest and greatest new wound dressings without actually giving thought to wound aetiology, tissue type and immediate aim.
This overview of wounds and dressings will identify some of the most common wound types and guide you in setting your aim of care and selecting a product or device to achieve that aim … read more
Hollister Inc. shifts away from wound care
Hollister Inc. on Feb. 2 announced its decision to divest portions of its wound care business. Hollister, which manufactures products for not only the wound care market, but also the ostomy, continence and critical care markets, is in the process of transitioning its Hydrofera Blue and Endoform businesses to new owners, according to a press release. The new owners, who plan to continue manufacturing and delivering the products, will be named in a “forthcoming” communication, the release says … read more
Effective Wound Dressing Securement for Infection Prevention
In order to promote rapid healing, improve patient comfort and prevent complications, it is important that healthcare professionals actively work to prevent infection. One key component of that effort is wound dressing securement. Secure, gentle and effective dressings can help prevent the ingress of foreign material, reduce damage during dressing changes and help foster an ideal healing environment. This can help reduce the risk of infection, improving patient outcomes and lowering costs.1 In this post, we will explore the importance of infection prevention and effective dressing securement strategies to help prevent infection … read more
International Conference on Wound Care, Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine
London, UK
June 14-15, 2018
Medicare Spending on Wound Care: The First Comprehensive Study
Did you ever wonder how much it really costs to treat and heal various wounds? Patients, family members, and healthcare team members often complain to me that $5/day for nutrition therapy is “too expensive.” Cost is relative, because according to the first comprehensive study of Medicare spending on wound care, it appears that an investment in medical nutrition therapy is a wise investment indeed.
A new study entitled An Economic Evaluation of the Impact, Cost, and Medicare Policy Implications of Chronic Nonhealing Wounds1, demonstrates the economic impact of chronic nonhealing wounds in the Medicare population and highlights the associated need for quality measures and reimbursement models for wound care within the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payment policies. The study analyzed 2014 Medicare data to determine the cost of chronic wound care for Medicare beneficiaries in aggregate, by wound type, and by care setting …. read more
Probiotic supplementation aids wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer
Patients with a diabetic foot ulcer who received probiotic supplementation for 12 weeks experienced faster wound healing coupled with an improved glycemic and lipid profile compared with patients assigned placebo, according to findings from a randomized controlled trial.
Sima Mohseni, of the infectious diseases and tropical medicine research center at Babol University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and colleagues analyzed data from 60 adults aged 40 years to 85 years with grade 3 diabetic foot ulcer, who randomly received either probiotic supplementation (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) daily for 12 weeks between March and June 2016. Probiotic capsules contained lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus fermentum and Bifidobacterium bifidum. All participants also underwent standard treatment for wound care … read more
Assessing Stress During Wound Care
Review: Assessing Stress During Wound Care in Real-Time Using Wearable Sensors
Introduction: The Stress Response in Wound Care in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Within the last decade, the rise of diabetes in the U.S. population has been matched with a rise in diabetic foot ulcers requiring amputations. Because many of these diabetic foot ulcers develop secondary to poor wound healing and susceptibility to infection after surgery, some important risk factors have been evaluated. Stress, among other factors, has been shown not only to affect the psychological state of a patient, but also biologically to impair immunity and induce an inflammatory microenvironment within patients.
Although previous studies have measured stress by using heart rate and respiration rate during a dressing change lasting three to five minutes, no studies have continuously quantified stress in patients with diabetic foot ulcers during a routine visit. This particular study attempted to examine the stress response in patients with diabetic foot ulcers by using a chest-worn sensor displaying heart rate data. The research team relied on an algorithm to estimate stress that used changes in heart rate variability, a measurement that is taken between two consecutive R waves of an electrocardiogram.
Materials and Methods: Electrocardiographic Monitoring of Wound Dressing Changes in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Twenty patients with diabetic foot ulcers were recruited from a wound care center and were given the BioHarness3, an FDA approved body device to evaluate single-channel electrocardiogram activity, respiration rate, posture, and core body temperature. To ensure quality control, the team used a smart phone to monitor data in a real-time fashion. This smart phone and BioHarness3 system had a biomodule that was linked to the patient’s body via a biopatch and electrocardiogram electrodes.
read more
NAWCO Initiates Wound Care Certification Internationally
ST. JOSEPH, Mich., Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy® (NAWCO®) announced today, the international expansion of its WCC® (Wound Care Certified) credential. The first group of international candidates sat for the proctored WCC® board certification exam at the conclusion of the NAWCO® approved Skin and Wound Management course in Nassau, The Bahamas on December 8, 2017.
“We are honored to be chosen as the approved credential for the Public Hospitals Authority, one of the best healthcare systems in the Caribbean. We would also like to congratulate the Wound Care Education Institute® for being chosen as the preferred education provider for the system as well. This milestone represents our continued commitment to grow the number one wound care certification in the United States to areas throughout the world where the need for more qualified wound care clinicians is great. We are excited to now offer WCC® certification beyond our American boundaries”, said Cindy Broadus, Executive Director NAWCO®.
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Wound care company introduces new technology
Swift Medical has introduced Swift AutoDepth technology, which lets clinicians take wound depth measurements at the point of care using a smartphone camera.
PointClickCare Skin and Wound, which is powered by Swift Medical technology, will be one of the first solutions to integrate Swift AutoDepth, the company said.
“Wounds heal from the inside out, and wound depth measurement is an important indicator in determining if a wound is healing properly,” says Carlo Perez, CEO of Swift Medical. “We saw the need for a touch-free and painless way to automate wound depth measurement and delivered with AutoDepth.”
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Assessing Wound Depth with Smartphone Sensors
A new technological capability enables clinicians to gauge wound depth and severity using smartphone cameras, according to an announcement today from Swift Medical. The innovation could help to better manage wound outcomes.
The system, called AutoDepth, will be part of the PointClickCare Skin and Wound application, which is powered by Swift’s technology. In many cases, depth can be a key indicator as to whether a wound is healing properly. The system’s algorithms process dynamic changes in depth over time, and it also uses machine learning to improve its accuracy.
Carlo Perez, CEO of Swift Medical, equates the sensory techniques to those that enable autonomous driving.
Gauging wound severity with a smartphone has a few advantages … read more
Healogics, Inc. Names David Bassin as New Chief Executive Officer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Healogics, Inc., the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services, today announced that it has appointed David Bassin to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Bassin joined Healogics in January 2016 as Chief Financial Officer.
“David has been an instrumental member of the executive leadership team and a catalyst for change within the organization,” said John Dineen, Chairman of the Board. Dineen went on to say, “David’s extensive leadership experience within healthcare, coupled with his understanding of the Healogics business, makes him uniquely qualified for this CEO role.”
David Bassin, Chief Executive Officer
Prior to Healogics, Bassin served as Chief Financial Officer at eviCore Healthcare, Inc., MedSolutions, Inc., and inVentiv Health, Inc. Over the course of his 20-year career, he has had the opportunity to touch many areas of healthcare, including clinical services, product management, payer strategies and, with Healogics, physician practice management. “His proven track record of driving company growth through strategic initiatives, acquisitions and operational efficiencies will allow him to seamlessly transition into this role. I am delighted that he has accepted this position,” said Dineen.
“I am excited by the opportunity to lead Healogics. It is an honor; and I’m grateful to the Board of Directors for this opportunity,” said David Bassin. “We have an exceptional organization of dedicated and talented professionals. It’s our people that make Healogics a special company and the preeminent provider of wound care. Together, with our hospital partners, we are making an incredible difference in the lives of our patients every day. This is truly an exciting time to be part of Healogics and to lead the company into the future of healthcare.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have an executive like David leading Healogics
OnCourse Learning Acquires Leading Wound Care Training Company
Wound Care Education Institute will provide expanded offerings to healthcare clinicians
BROOKFIELD, Wis., Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — OnCourse Learning today announced the acquisition of Wound Care Education Institute, an internationally recognized wound care education leader for healthcare professionals.
“Wound care impacts patients along nearly the entire care continuum,” said Patrick Sheahan, President and CEO of OnCourse Learning. “By educating clinicians throughout the continuum, patient care can be more positively influenced thanks to Wound Care Education Institute’s library of courses.”
WCEI was founded in 2002 in Lake Geneva, Wis., by Nancy Morgan, RN, BSN, MBA, WOC, DWC, OMS, and Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, DWC, OMS. While working as registered nurses, they noticed a trend of nurses and healthcare professionals who had an interest in wound care but limited or non-existent access to specialized wound education. Morgan and Sardina decided to effect change by forming WCEI … read more
State of the Art Hydrogels for Wound Care and ….
State of the Art Hydrogels for Wound Care and Drug Delivery: Interview with CEO of Alliqua Inc.
Alliqua is a Langhorne, PA medical technology company that uses its proprietary hydrogel platform to develop wound care and drug delivery solutions. The company prides itself in having a broad range of wound care products that are not only different from competing products available on the market, but also in providing multiple options to clinicians to generate optimal wound healing outcomes with minimal risk of infections. Medgadget had the opportunity to interview David Johnson, CEO of Alliqua to learn about the latest products offered by the company and to get a better understanding of the next generation of wound care tools …. read more