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Mepilex Transfer is a thin and highly conformable foam dressing that absorbs exudate and maintains a moist wound environment. The Safetac layer seals around the wound edges, preventing the exudate from leaking onto the surrounding skin, thus minimizing the risk for maceration. As the Safetac layer seals around the wound, the foam structure of Mepilex Transfer allows the exudate to move vertically into a secondary absorbent pad, maintaining a moist wound environment. The Safetac layer ensures atraumatic dressing changes. Mepilex Transfer can be cut to suit various wound shapes and locations.

Benefits of Mepilex Transfer

• Minimizes pain and trauma at dressing changes
• Transfers exudate away from the wound
• Stays in place allowing for "hands-free" to facilitate application of compression or retention bandages
• Promotes patient comfort; thin and very comfortable to wear
• Can be left in place during radiotherapy using commonly applied energy ranges and absorbed doses
• Well suited to be used under compression bandages
• Can be cut to suit various wound shapes and difficult-to-dress locations
• Can remain in place for several days depending on the condition of the wound
• Can be lifted and adjusted without losing its adherent properties
• Low potential for skin irritation and allergy
  

Areas of use:
Mepilex Transfer is designed for a wide range of exuding wounds such as fungating tumours, epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), donor sites, venous leg ulcers. Mepilex Transfer can also be used as a protective layer on non-exuding wounds and/or large areas with fragile skin.

Product description
Mepilex Transfer is a soft silicone exudate transfer dressing. It consists of a flexible and hydrophilic polyurethane foam coated with a soft silicone layer (Safetac Technology).

Safetac Technology
Safetac is a patented soft silicone adhesive technology.
On the wound, Safetac assures non-sticking and minimal trauma on removal even in critical situations when the exudate becomes sticky or starts to dry. On the skin, a dressing with Safetac has gentle but secure adhesion with minimised epidermal stripping and pain on removal.

Mode of action
Mepilex Transfer is thin and conformable making it easy to keep the dressing in contact with the wound surface and the surrounding skin, even in awkward or uneven areas. The structure of Mepilex Transfer allows the exudate to be transferred vertically into a secondary absorbent pad. The Safetac layer seals around the wound edges preventing the exudate to leak horizontally on to the surrounding skin, thus, minimising maceration and excoriation. Mepilex Transfer maintains a moist wound environment in combination with an appropriate secondary dressing.

Intended use
Mepilex Transfer is designed for a wide range of exuding and difficult-to-dress wounds.
Mepilex Transfer can also be used as a protective layer on non-exuding wounds and/or large areas of fragile skin.
Mepilex Transfer can be used under compression.

Instructions for use

1. Cleanse the wound in accordance with normal procedures.
2. Dry the surrounding skin to assure optimal contact with Mepilex Transfer.
3. Remove the release films and apply Mepilex Transfer with the adherent side to the wound.
4. Mepilex Transfer should overlap the dry surrounding skin by at least 1-2 cm for the smaller sizes (sizes up to 12.5 x 12.5 cm) and 5 cm for the larger sizes in order to protect the surrounding skin from maceration and excoriation and fixate the dressing securely.
5. Apply an appropriate secondary dressing to maintain a moist wound environment:
   - For non-exuding to lightly exuding wounds, use a breathable film dressing for fixation.
   - For moderately to highly exuding wounds, use a secondary absorbent dressing on top of Mepilex Transfer. Fixate Mepilex Transfer and the secondary dressing with a bandage or other fixation.

If required, Mepilex Transfer can be cut.

Frequency of change
Mepilex Transfer may be left in place for several days depending on the condition of the wound and the surrounding skin, or as indicated by accepted clinical practice. A change in dressing regimen can result in an initial change in the level of wound exudate.

Precautions
In case of signs of clinical infection, consult a health care professional for adequate infection treatment. Do not use Mepilex Transfer together with oxidising agents such as hypochlorite solutions or hydrogen peroxide. Mepilex Transfer should be stored in dry conditions below 35°C (95F) and be protected from direct sunlight.
Do not use if inner package is damaged. Sterility is guaranteed if inner package is intact. Do not resterilise.

Mepilex and Safetac are registered trademarks of Mölnlycke Health Care AB.

General issues

Technical issues

Clinical issues

Handling issues

General issues

What is Mepilex Transfer?
Mepilex Transfer is designed for a wide range of exuding and difficult-to-dress wounds. Mepilex Transfer can also be used as a protective layer on non-exuding wounds and/or large areas of fragile skin. Mepilex Transfer can be used under compression.

How does Mepilex Transfer work?
Mepilex Transfer is thin and conformable making it easy to keep the dressing in contact with the wound surface and the surrounding skin, even in awkward or uneven areas. The structure of Mepilex Transfer allows the exudate to be transferred vertically into a secondary absorbent pad. The Safetac layer seals around the wound edges, preventing the exudate from leaking on to the surrounding skin, thus, minimizing maceration and excoriation. Mepilex Transfer maintains a moist wound environment in combination with an appropriate secondary dressing.

Technical issues

How can Mepilex Transfer be lifted and adjusted without loss of adherent properties?
Mepilex Transfer features Safetac® technology. Safetac is a patented soft silicone adhesive technology. The soft silicone moves into the uneven area of the skin and adheres over a large area on the skin. On removal, no stripping of epidermal cells occurs. The soft silicone layer is therefore intact and still adherent. This in contrast to dressings with “traditional adhesives” where epidermal cells are being stripped of on removal blocks the adhesiveness.

Are there any sensitising compounds in Mepilex Transfer?
The wound and skin contact layer is silicone, which is inert. For example skin creams and clothes contain silicone oil. The silicone contains 1 ppm (part per million) of Platinum, a concentration so low that no one can develop any sensitization or allergy. However, if a patient is already sensitized to Platinum, a skin reaction can be developed.

How should Mepilex Transfer be stored?
Mepilex Transfer should be stored in dry conditions below 35°C (95F).

What happens if Mepilex Transfer is stored above 35°C?
Nothing more than that it becomes slightly yellow after a while. This is harmless.

Does Mepilex Transfer influence the wound pH?
Mepilex Transfer is neutral and is assumed not to change the pH of the wound.

Does Mepilex Transfer cause any bad smell?
No.

Does ozone depleting compounds exist in the foam manufacturing process?
No.

Does gravitation have any effect on the exudates transfer performance?
No, gravitation has minimal effect if used with a secondary absorbent pad. The secondary absorbent pad may be affected by gravity to some extent. This secondary absorbent pad could be positioned “non-centred” slightly below the wound due to gravitation effects.

Can Mepilex Transfer be sterilized by steam?
No.

Should Mepilex Transfer be used together with oxidizing agents?
If possible, it should be avoided but as long as the wound/skin is dried thoroughly after using an oxidizing agent, there is no risk using the combination (hypochlorite solutions and hydrogen peroxide are examples of oxidizing agents).

Clinical issues

Does Mepilex Transfer clean the wound?
No, it does not contain any active cleansing agents.

Can Mepilex Transfer be used on infected wounds?
Yes, but always under supervision of a health care professional and if appropriate infection treatment is initiated.

Is there a risk that Mepilex Transfer dries out the wound?
No, not if used with an appropriate secondary dressing.

Will Mepilex Transfer cause any wound maceration?
Mepilex Transfer minimizes the risk of maceration. The Safetac layer seals around the wound, forcing the exudate to pass into/through the dressing and thereby preventing the exudate from leaking onto the surrounding skin.

Can Mepilex Transfer be used on dry wounds?
Yes, depending on the condition of the wound bed and/or surrounding skin. It should then be used in combination with a gel and film.

Does Mepilex Transfer work in combination with gels?
Yes.

How does Mepilex Transfer perform under compression bandages?
Mepilex Transfer can be used in combination with compression bandages. The product both absorbs and transfers the exudate into a secondary absorbent dressing when 40 mm Hg is applied.

Can Mepilex Transfer be used on deep wounds?
Mepilex Transfer can be used on deep wounds if a wound filler is used on top.

Can Mepilex Transfer be used on black wounds?
Yes, but only as a passive protection layer. There are other dressings more suitable for black wounds.

Is Mepilex Transfer bacteria proof?
No, but it can be used with a bacteria proof film on top.

Is Mepilex Transfer viral proof?
No. See answer above.

What is a fungating malignant wound?
Fungating malignant wounds are caused by tumour infiltration (cancer) of the skin and its supporting blood and lymph vessels. There is the potential for massive damage to the skin, through a combination of proliferative growth, loss of vascularity and ulceration.

Handling issues

When should Mepilex Transfer be changed?
According to wound status and clinical practice.

How do you remove Mepilex Transfer?
Gently lift one corner and slowly peel back the dressing along the surface of the dressing (roll it off).

Why should you remove Mepilex Transfer slowly?
This is the nature of soft silicone. The more slowly you peel off the dressing, the less force is required.

Is Mepilex Transfer shower proof?
No.

Can Mepilex Transfer be cut to size?
Yes, as Mepilex Transfer is borderless, the product can be cut to size.

How is Mepilex Transfer fixated?
Again, this depends on the wounds status and body site. When possible, a film is recommended, but Mefix, bandages and tapeless garments can also be used.

How much does Mepilex Transfer absorb?
The maximal absorption of Mepilex Transfer is18 g/ 100 cm2 without any pressure applied. This is approximately 25% out of the absorption of Mepilex. With 40 mm Hg pressure applied, it absorbs 6 g/ 100 cm2, which is approximately 20% out of the absorption of Mepilex, measured with pressure. However, Mepilex Transfer is not an absorbent dressing but an exudate transfer dressing