Patient Care Balance: A Case for Innovative SAP Dressings

Introduction: With a recent increase in reported wounds, addressing barriers to wound healing has become crucial. A recent white paper on the Wound Balance concept identifies barriers such as local and systemic factors, misaligned patient goals, and challenges related to dressings. According to the paper, Patient Care Balance is achieved through a thorough patient-centered approach and is essential in the wound healing journey. Lower extremity wounds, often painful and highly exudative, present various challenges. Patient Balance requires consideration of functional status, social and economic factors, and individual goals. Ideally, patient challenges should be identified and managed through customized treatment plans and innovative practices.Methods:This study presents a series of challenging cases involving highly exudative atypical lower extremity wounds, including chronic venous ulcerations, Graft vs Host disease, toe amputation, and delayed surgical healing of partial first ray resection. The author shares experiences of improved patient outcomes after switching protocols to an innovative superabsorbent polymer (SAP) dressing in a wound care practice and addressing additional barriers faced by patients with lower extremity wounds.Results:After implementing the new protocol, there was a noticeable improvement in odor control and wound base appearance, along with a decreased frequency of multiple daily dressing changes. Additionally, patient priorities such as reduced pain and improved body image were met, enhancing their overall quality of life.Discussion: These results indicate that superabsorbent dressings should be the standard of care for all lower extremity wounds with moderate to heavy exudate. These dressings aid in wound healing, infection control, odor control, and pain management. Addressing Patient Care Balance helps recognize these benefits that can significantly reduce physical and social suffering, thereby improving quality of life. References:Atkin L, B. Z. (2019). Implementing TIMERS: the race against hard-to-heal wounds. J Wound Care, 28(3 Suppl 3), S1–S49. Barrett, S. et al. (2018). An observational study of a superabsorbent polymer dressing evaluated by clinicians and patients. Journal of Wound Care vol 27, no. 2, February 2018 Carter M, D. J. (2023). Chronic wound prevalence and the associated cost of treatment in Medicare beneficiaries: changes between 2014 and 2019. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ECONOMICS, 26(1), 894-901. Davies, LO, Rippon MG and Westgate SJ. (2017) Odour Sequestration Properties of Superabsorbent Dressings Perfectus Paper 2017: Poster presented at Wounds UK. Harrogate, UK Garten, A., Smola, H. B., Carr, M., Dumas, F., Schäfer, J., Trouth, S., . . . Willilams, L. G. (2023). Wound Balance: Achieving Wound Healing with Confidence. Wounds International, 1-16. (n.d.). World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) Consensus Document. Wound exudate: effective assessment and management Wounds International, 2019