Educational Report

Topical Use of Concentrated Surfactant Technology for Removal of Nonviable Tissue and Wound Bed Preparation

10/12/2018

BACKGROUND: Wound bed preparation by removal of various barriers to wound healing, such as nonviable tissue and associated microbiome, is a fundamental principle of wound bed preparation. Timely removal of debris is essential for the initiation of cellular proliferation/migration as well as for reducing the continued generation of the debris-induced inflammatory mediators. When assessing current methods of wound bed debridement and preparation, pros and cons can be listed for each, but few can meet all the criteria of being cost effective, easy to use, and hydrating. Concentrated surfactant technology (CST) that contains poloxamer 188 have been shown, in vitro, to have antibiofilm properties.

OBJECTIVE: This report covers the analysis of using topical CST for the management of nonviable tissue and wound bed preparation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Topical CST was applied to various wound types that contained > 50% nonviable tissue in the respective wound beds. Application was in accordance to the manufacturer’s guidelines. One-hundred individual patients with 1 or more wounds were included in the trial and on average had their dressings changed and CST reapplied 3 times weekly.

RESULTS: It was discovered that the use of CST for wound bed preparation resulted in removal of > 90% nonviable tissue on an average of < 34 days (n = 100) via softening, loosening, and trapping of the debris that was removed easily during dressing changes. No pain or discomfort was reported in association with CST in any of the analyzed cases.

CONCLUSIONS: The rapid nature in which CST was able to clean and prepare wound beds safely and without adverse events or patient discomfort makes it a potentially attractive tool for removal of nonviable tissue and wound bed preparation.

CITATION
Wheeler A, Overfield GM. Topical use of concentrated surfactant technology for removal of nonviable tissue and wound bed preparation. Poster presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Fall; November 2-4, 2018; Las Vegas, NV.

Product: CST gel (Medline Industries, Northfield, IL)

This abstract was not subject to the WOUNDS peer-review process.

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