Using a Superabsorbent Dressing for Patients in a Palliative Care Pathway

A recent poster at SAWC Fall stresses the importance of establishing innovative care models to support patients’ quality of life, especially those engaged in palliative care and aging in place. Windy Cole, DPM, CWSP and Ann Whaley, APRN presented a prospective, 3-patient series involving Stage 4 pressure injuries. The cohort members were all enrolled in a long-term care pathway (Woundtech) based on their cumulative fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss of weight (FRAIL) scores. These patients received a non-adherent superabsorbent dressing (Zetuvit Plus, Hartmann Group) as part of their treatment plan with assessment and dressing changes weekly.

The authors found that use of this novel superabsorbent dressing incorporated well into their existing palliative care plans, including successful continued use over the 7 days between assessments. The patients tolerated the dressing changes well, with no reports of pain. They additionally found that fluid and malodor were managed without periwound maceration, and that the combination of materials in the dressing increased patient comfort due to a padding effect over areas of pressure.

“In the traditional wound care model, the focus is on providing aggressive therapies to obtain wound closure or complete healing,” says Dr. Cole. “In a palliative or long-term wound care pathway, the focus shifts toward providing patient comfort and dignity, preventing wound infection and deterioration, averting hospitalizations and improving overall patient quality of life.”

She adds that the principles of palliative wound care are becoming more important as our population ages. Wound care clinicians treat patients with complex wounds due to multiple co-morbidities and local factors. She goes on to say that she finds that enrolling patients in dedicated long-term care pathways can help maintain high-quality wound management and support the individual wound care goals of each patient. 

Dr. Cole shares that palliative care can increase patient satisfaction, reduce emergency department presentations and hospitalizations, and reduce health care costs.

“Although the main goal of palliative wound care is not necessarily wound healing, it does not mean that these wounds will never heal; it just may take longer to do so,” she explains. “Choosing the appropriate long-wear dressings to optimize the wound bed is extremely important. Managing malodor, bacterial colonization, necrotic tissue, and exudate will support quality of life in this patient population.”

Dr. Cole discloses that she is the National Director of Quality, Safety, and Education for Woundtech.