Top ten most frequently asked
Technical issues
Clinical & handling issues
Top ten most frequently asked
What is the difference between Mepore and its competitors?
Even though many competitor products look very much like Mepore, there are some differences:
- The adhesive in Mepore is water-based. Many competitor products have a solvent-based adhesive with the risk of solvent residuals in the adhesive causing skin reactions.
- Mepore’s release paper is very easy to remove which makes the product easy to handle. Most competitor products have a stiffer release paper which is more difficult to remove and increases the risk of contaminating the product and also increases the risk to make the dressing useless (“adhesive against adhesive).
- The release liner of Mepore has a fold which makes the handling easy and provides for an aseptic application – many competitor products have a perforated release paper
- High credibility. Mepore was the first product in its category and more than 1 billion Mepore dressings have been sold over more than 20 years. The complaint level is extremely low (0.6 ppm).
Is Mepore fluid repellent (hydrophobic)?
Yes, to some extent. The combination of the polyester nonwoven, which is non-absorbent (hydrophobic), and the adhesive, creates fluid repellence to some degree. Note that the product is not shower proof.
Does Mepore adhere to the wound?
The absorbent pad of Mepore has a wound contact layer, which is designed to give minimum adherence to the wound.
Are there any allergy problems?
The type of adhesive used in Mepore is known in general to cause very few allergic reactions
Is Mepore easy to handle?
It is easy to open the package in an aseptic way, and the soft and overlapping release paper is very easy to remove.
What are the main indications of Mepore?
Mepore is the ideal dressing for surgical wounds, and can be used for all wounds that have low to medium exudate levels.
What sterilization method is used? Can it be re-sterilized?
Mepore is sterilized with ethylene oxide. It is validated for re-sterilization in ethylene oxide.
How do I avoid blistering from surgical dressings?
Blistering is mainly caused by shearing forces between the skin and the dressing and is a problem that may occur with all types of dressings. In order to avoid blistering the Mepore shall not be stretched when applied. The stretching causes shear forces that might result in blistering. It is important to thoroughly dry and clean the skin before dressing application.
There is no evidence in the literature that any specific dressing would create more blistering than others. Anyhow, if blistering occurs with Mepore, first of all the advice above should be considered. If that doesn’t help, other fixation should be considered such as Mefix stripes (fixating a pad just in the pad corners), a film dressing (Mepore Film) or any fixation bandage.
Should Mepore be used on infected wounds?
The wound should be inspected for signs of infection according to clinical practice. In case of clinical signs of infection, (pain, redness, swelling or unusual odour or discharge), continued use of Mepore should be determined by a health care professional.
How is secure adhesion to the skin obtained?
The adhesion level is optimized if applied on dry clean skin surface. Position the dressing over the wound without stretching. Firmly smooth the adhesive border onto the skin to obtain proper adhesion.
Technical issues
Is Mepore permeable to air?
Yes.
What is Mepore’s shelf life?
3 years.
Does Mepore contain any pharmaceutical component?
No.
What type of adhesive is used in Mepore?
The adhesive of Mepore is a water-based polyacrylate.
Is it possible that the adhesion level varies per batch?
Yes. There is always a chance of small variation in the adhesive raw material, which might cause minor variations between batches. All products released to the market are according to our specifications.
Is Mepore available in any other colour other than white?
No, but Mepore Pro comes in a light beige colour.
How do you handle the package and used product waste?
Product and package could be incinerated without forming any hazardous effluents. The shelf container and transport box can be recycled.
Does Mepore contain PVC?
No, Mepore does not contain PVC, neither the product nor the release liner nor the packaging material.
What is the packaging made of?
The outer packaging system, including transport and dispenser box, is made from a corrugated board carton to withstand heavy loads during transport and storing.
How robust is the transport container?
The transport container is made of corrugated board. It is designed to withstand expected stress during transportation.
Is Mepore available in different sizes?
See Mepore overview for information on the available assortment.
Do you have smaller inner packages available for wholesalers and pharmacies?
In certain markets, we offer some Mepore sizes packed in 5 or 10 pieces (depending on the sizes).
Is there a difference between sterile Mepore and Mepore on roll?
All materials are the same but the Mepore on roll is unsterile.
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Clinical & handling issues
Is it possible to use Mepore on exuding wounds?
Mepore is designed for low to medium exuding wounds.
Is Mepore shower-proof?
No. Mepore is not shower-proof and we do not recommend that you take a shower with it. If a shower-proof dressing is required, we strongly recommend that you use Mepore Pro. It has all the benefits of Mepore, plus it is shower-proof.
Is Mepore elastic and/or extensible and follow the patient’s movement?
Mepore is elastic and slightly extensible, it is soft and will follow the patient’s movements. It is however important not to stretch the dressing during application as this might damage the skin and potentially cause skin blisters.
Do you have to use swabs under Mepore?
No, as Mepore is designed with an absorbent pad you should not use a swab underneath. The wound pad has a wound contact layer that is low adherent with no fibre linting contrary to gauze. If extra absorption is needed please consider another dressing. The Mepore assortment is designed to cope with almost every type of surgical wound regarding absorption.
Is there a product like Mepore with higher absorption capacity?
Yes. Mepore Pro has higher absorption capacity. It comes in six sizes (from 6x7 cm to 9x30 cm).
Does Mepore leave adhesive residues on the patient’s skin after removal?
Adhesive residuals are rarely seen after removal.
Is it easy to remove Mepore?
As the adhesion level is designed to adhere gently to the skin, Mepore is usually easy to remove.
Will removal of Mepore cause any pain?
Since the pain experienced when removing a dressing is very individual it is only possible to give a general answer. Under normal conditions the removal would not be very painful but if the dressing adheres to the wound, or if it adheres to the skin (e.g. sensitive or very dry or damaged skin), or if it is applied to hairy parts of the body, there might be some pain.
Do you need to use any special products (such as antiseptics, ether) before or/and after using Mepore?
No. But antiseptic pre-cleansing can be used provided the skin is thoroughly dried before application of Mepore.
How long can Mepore remain on the patient’s skin? How often should Mepore be changed?
It depends on the wound, the exudate level and the condition of the patient’s skin. Usually Mepore can be left on the patient for several days.
How can Mepore be cut if you need to use more than one dressing to cover one wound?
The best thing to do is to choose a larger size. If this is not appropriate, cut off the adhesive part on one end of a Mepore, apply the “cut Mepore” and cover and overlap with another Mepore.
When is Mepore contraindicated?
We have a lot of experience from many years of using these types of products and also related raw materials on a variety of wounds and indications. The level of complaints registered for this product is very low. No contraindications have been discovered.
Are there any precautions to consider when using Mepore?
Mepore should not be applied on patients who are sensitive to acrylic adhesive.
Care should be taken to minimize skin tension that could cause mechanical damage to the skin:
- Ensure that Mepore is not applied under tension.
- When applying over joints, be careful to apply in such a way that it does not impair flexibility of joints.
After some surgical interventions excessive swelling may occur. In such a case it could be better to use a more flexible dressing, such as Mepore Film polyurethane film, in order to minimize skin tension.
Are there any wounds where Mepore should be avoided?
Mepore should not be used for heavily exuding wounds.
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