Clinical Challenge
To afford thorough effective debridement of significant levels of non-viable tissue in a large wound situated in a sensitive location to help reduce the risk of delayed wound healing whilst concomitantly minimising wound care-related pain and maintaining patient comfort.
Patient and Wound History
- 88-year-old male.
- Medical history of chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, heart disease (pacemaker fitted, previous aneurysm), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Surgical history: Full thickness skin graft following excision of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on top of scalp; approximately 9 months previous.
- Due to the re-occurance of SCC, surgical excision of previous wound borders with application of a synthetic skin substitute (Biodegradable Temporising Matrix (BTM)).
- After 79 days, BTM delamination was performed. The wound area measured 72 cm2 with a depth of 0.5cm, wound exudation was low, viscous and yellow/green in appearance and a low increase in wound exudation was indicative of an infection (swab test of the wound performed).
| Debridgement Procedure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Before | After | |
| Visable tissue | 80% | 100% |
| Peri-wound | Mild Dryness | Healthy |
| Pain severity prior to dressing change - 0 Pain severity during cleansing - 0 Pain severity during debridement - 0 |
|
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Clincian's Perspective
Mepi™ Debripad provided a combination of softness, durability and controlled mechanical action that allowed for extended debridement without causing trauma to the periwound area. Despite the duration of the procedure, and the sensitivity of the treatment area, the patient experienced no pain or discomfort unlike his previous experience of wound debridement. Overall, the gentle nature of Mepi™ Debripad helped improve the clinical outcome and the patient’s overall experience of care.
Acknowledgement: This case study report has been prepared by Mölnlycke’s Global Medical Affairs team and is distributed with permission of the responsible clinician.
Learn more about Mepi™ Debripad
Mepi™ Debripad is Mölnlycke’s easy-to-use microfibre pad for safe, fast and low-pain mechanical debridement. It requires no specialist training and can be used as a standalone treatment or as a complement to sharp or chemical debridement.
