Effectiveness of an enhanced silver-containing dressing in hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of a carboxymethylcellulose dressing containing ionic silver, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and benzethonium chloride (CISEB) versus a dialkylcarbamoyl chloride-coated dressing (DACC) in hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers (VLUs).

Method: In a multinational, multicentre, randomised controlled trial, patients with hard-to-heal VLUs were randomised 1:1 to receive CISEB (n=100) or DACC (n=103) for up to four weeks. VLUs that were not healed by week 4 were managed with standard of care for up to 12 weeks or until healed (whichever was sooner).