Low-adherent dressings

Adherence of the whole or part of the dressing to the wound surface is a major problem in wound management, often causing trauma on removal of the dressing. A low-adherent dressing can help lower or eliminate adherence to wound. 

The dextranomer is supplied in beads of 100-300 pm diameter containing poloxamer 187, polyethylene glycol 300, and some water. A paste formulation is also available which is the dextranomer in polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG 600). The beads are offered as a discrete particle or enclosed in a low adherence pouch for insertion into a cavity wound. One company (Pfizer) offers a polymeric net which can be placed into a cavity wound before the addition of either granules or paste and facilitates removal and also a vapor permeable film which is superimposed on the dextranomer dressing to control evaporation and retard drying in a low exudating wound. 

Low adherences good dressings can help eliminate adherence to a wound. 

An alternative to the acrylamide-based composite hydrogel dressing is an acrylamide grafted to a polyurethane film to give a transparent, flexible gel with an equilibrium water content of approximately 50 /o. The hydrated gel has a low modulus of elasticity and a high water permeability that facilitates the adherence of the gel to the wound surface. The permeability... 

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