Wound bed preparation Resources

Patients with chronic wounds present a growing challenge to community practitioners. Adding to this growing burden is the fact that inconsistent and sub-optimal wound care is delivered in some cases resulting in hard-to-heal wounds that could heal with evidence-based care. Holistic patient assessment is an important first step in establishing the cause of the wound and identifying any barriers to healing. Wound bed preparation is a concept which prepares the wound for closure by systematically identifying potential barriers to non-healing within the wound, including the presence of devitalised tissue, excess exudate, increased wound bioburden, infection, inflammation and biofilm. Dressings are a key part of wound bed preparation in the community setting, and it is important that community practitioners are mindful of the properties and mode of action of products they use, so that optimal outcomes can be achieved. Suprasorb® Liquacel Pro is a hydroactive gelling fibre dressing and Suprasorb® Liquacel Ag is a hydroactive dressing with silver nanoparticles that can be used as part of wound bed preparation to promote a moist wound healing environment.

This article explores how effective exudate control and debridement can promote wound bed preparation and presents a 10-patient case series where Drawtex®, an advanced hydroconductive wound dressing with LevaFiber™ technology, improved the lives of patients with chronic wounds.

Sue Johnson, RN, MA, ANP, NMP, Lead Nurse Wound Care, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster
Pam Spruce, BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies, DN, DN Cert, RGN, Clinical Director, TVRE Consulting, Stoke-on-Trent
Kathleen Leak, DPSN, RGN, Wound Care Sister, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster
Denise Ridsdale, RGN, Nurse Practitioner, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster

Article accepted for publication: April 2013

With more and more advanced wound dressings becoming available, clinicians need to be selective when choosing the most appropriate treatment for patients with wounds in the community. Dressings are no longer tasked simply with protecting wounds and offering some level of absorbency, but need to be able to address both the physical and psychological aspects of having a wound to ensure patient-centred care. The sorbion range of dressings are developed to offer clinical solutions and provide cost-effective care.

Lisa Sutherland, Tissue Viability Lead, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Lynne Watret and Margaret Armitage discuss the need to prepare the wound bed in order for effective wound healing to take place.

Lynne Watret MN, MA, RGN is a Senior Nurse Tissue Viability, North Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Margaret Armitage DN Cert, RSCN, RGN is a Vascular Liaison Nurse Specialist, Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust.
Article accepted for publication
September 2001.