Evaluating a superabsorbent hydropolymer dressing for exuding venous leg ulcers.

A new hydropolymer dressing was compared with an alginate dressing in a multicentre, prospective, controlled, randomised, stratified, open label trial of 113 patients with exuding venous leg ulcers. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the dressings in terms of their ability to handle exudate, patient and user acceptability and cost-effectiveness. Patients were stratified according to volume of wound exudate (moderate/heavy) and randomised to the hydropolymer dressing or the alginate plus a secondary dressing.

TheraPulse ATP for preventing and treating pressure ulcers.

In the modern healthcare environment where evidence-based best practice is key in seeking quality improvements for patient care, using treatment and therapies that have evidence of clinical efficacy is paramount. The current evidence bases supporting pulsating air suspension therapy is excellent and the improved lymphatic flow and enhanced microcirculation along with reduction of pressure ulcer potential (El-Habbal and Smith, 1996; Gunther and Brofeldt, 1996) ensures a firm place for TheraPulse ATP (KCI Medical) in reduction of oedema and pressure ulcers in the critically ill patient.

Elvarex compression garments in the management of lymphoedema.

Lymphoedema is a progressive and debilitating disorder, caused by malfunction of the lymphatic system. It is characterized by chronic swelling, usually of a limb but it can also affect other parts of the body. It is not curable but can be reduced and controlled.

Short-stretch compression bandages and the foot pump.

Short-stretch compression bandages have been shown to be as cost-effective and efficient as other compression systems in healing venous ulcers, independent of associated factors (Scriven et al, 1998; Nelson, 1996). However, as they do not contract around a limb they do not exert pressure during inactivity (resting pressure) (Klose Norton, 2003). But their stability creates a high resistance to stretch when pressure is applied through internal muscle contraction and joint movement (working pressure) (Tuckwood, 1996).

The QUATTRO ACUTE mattress and pressure ulcer prevention.

There are a plethora of mattresses on the market and nurses are not always sure which mattress to select for each individual patient. This article outlines the issues in preventing and understanding pressure ulcers and the performance of the QUATTRO ACUTE trade mark mattress, manufactured by Talley Medical.

Jobst UlcerCARE compression hosiery for venous leg ulcers.

Chronic venous insufficiency affects the productivity and well-being of millions of people worldwide and is the most common cause of leg ulcers. Treatment of leg ulcers accounts for 22% of district nurses' time and places a major financial burden on NHS resources. Compression bandaging has been recognized as the optimum approach for venous ulcers but is not always applied effectively.

Short-stretch compression bandages and the foot pump: their relationship to restricted mobility.

Practitioners are generally advised not to use short-stretch bandages on patients who are immobile. But this appears to reflect confusion about calf muscle function, which research indicates still occurs during periods of limited mobility.

The complexities of heel ulcers.

This article examines the complexities of heel ulcers. Treatments now considered outdated and potentially hazardous are discussed as are modern treatments that may reduce the development of heel ulcers.

Spectral polarization measurements by use of the grating division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter.

The grating division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter (G-DOAP) is an instrument that exploits the multiple-beam-splitting, polarizing, and dispersive properties of diffraction gratings for the time-resolved measurement of the complete state of polarization of collimated broadband incident light, as represented by the four Stokes parameters as a function of wavelength across the spectrum. It is a compact, high-speed sensor that has no moving parts and is simple to install and operate. These characteristics make the G-DOAP well suited for in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) applications for monitoring and controlling thin-film processes.

Biological rhythms, endothelial health and cardiovascular disease.

The activity of several components of the vascular system appears to be diurnally regulated. Endothelial cell activation, leukocyte and platelet interactions and lipoprotein metabolism have all been shown to vary with time of day, but whether these variations are due to the endogenous circadian clock, exogenous factors, such as the light-dark cycle, or an interaction between the two remains to be determined. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation also varies diurnally.

The appropriate use of gloves to reduce allergies and infection.

Twenty years ago, the wearing of gloves for non-sterile procedures was viewed as insulting to the patient as it made him/her feel 'unclean'. Today, gloves are worn for all procedures and are often wastefully used. There must be a fine balance between inappropriate and appropriate use of gloves and between the use of latex gloves for comfort and fine movements vs the potential for latex allergies.

Repose: the cost-effective solution for prompt discharge of patients.

Pressure ulcer prevention is expensive and at times difficult to achieve. Formation, or the potential formation, of pressure ulcers can lead to delayed patient discharge, particularly when the appropriate equipment is unavailable on the day of discharge. This article reviews the potential of Repose, an inflatable mattress overlay, to be an inexpensive and clinically effective alternative to alternating air mattress systems.

SuperSkin: the management of skin susceptible to breakdown.

Few studies have been undertaken in the area of skin protection, even though maintaining tissue viability in the event of incontinence, shear forces and the potential for exudate to macerate periwound areas remains a challenge for any nurse caring for patients. This article outlines and discusses the problems associated with overhydrated tissues and shear forces and the potential for SuperSkin liquid film dressing, marketed by CliniMed, to provide a solution.

Adaptation of the circadian rhythm of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin to a shift schedule of seven nights followed by seven days in offshore oil installation workers.

This study evaluated circadian adaptation in a 'swing shift' schedule (seven nights, 18:00-06:00 h; then 7 days, 06:00-18:00 h) on North Sea oil installations. Eleven healthy men provided sequential urine collections for the study period offshore. The urinary melatonin metabolite 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) was used as an index of circadian phase.

Factors affecting the introduction of complementary foods in the preterm infant.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify current infant feeding practices among carers of preterm infants.

Design: Structured interviews on milk and complementary feeding practices were conducted with mothers of preterm infants at intervals until infants were 12 months corrected age.

Setting: Recruitment took place in three local Surrey hospitals over a 2 y period.

Introducing the Reflexion pressure-redistributing cushion.

Preventing pressure ulcer incidence and ensuring patient comfort are essential components of providing quality clinical care (Hampton, 2001), and therefore comfortable pressure-redistributing seating should be a prerequisite to care provision. However, even though education in tissue viability has increased, it is only within the last 2 years that chair cushions have been noted for their importance in reducing pressure ulceration. It is not unknown for patients to have excellent pressure-reducing equipment on the bed but have chair cushions that are of an inferior standard (Hampton, 1999).

Use of Pressurease and Airform mattresses in pressure ulcer care.

Large cell dynamic air mattresses are effective in the prevention of pressure ulcers but they still have inherent problems, e.g. the ability of the mattresses to move patients along the mattress through the inflation and deflation of the cells.