Hypochlorous Acid Wraps as a Precursor to Compression Therapy with Venous Stasis Ulcers

Care of venous stasis ulcers can be painful for patients and a time consuming process. Compression is the gold standard of wound healing for venous stasis ulcers, yet many times patients cannot tolerate any level of compression. Beginning to heal wounds and decreasing pain is an important and often difficult step to achieve, to get the patient to the point of tolerating compression therapy. Wet to moist therapy using hypochlorous acid wraps (HAW) has shown promise in wound healing of venous stasis ulcers, without use of compression.

A case study of three inpatients has shown that using HAW can be an effective way to begin the healing process for venous stasis ulcers. The method used for application consists of: a) wrap with moistened (with hypochlorous acid) gauze, b) wrap the moistened gauze wrap around the affected lower extremity, c)apply ABD pads over moistened gauze, d) wrap with dry gauze to keep dressing in place, and e) secure with perforated tape (not placing tape on skin) to hold dressing in place. This dressing is then changed every 12 hours to support the half-life of 12 hours of hypochlorous acid.

In this three patient case study, the venous stasis ulcers showed a decrease in size, decrease dead tissue on the wound beds, and a decrease in pain.

With consistent twice daily dressing changes using HAW, venous stasis ulcers can heal more quickly and with less pain. Less pain helps to promote patient comfort and compliance with compression therapy.

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