Introduction
The patient is a 90 year-old female with a history of hypertension and peripheral vascular disease, for which she underwent successful angioplasty in March 2012. The patient has had mixed disease leg ulceration for a year and a half and suffered from recurrent infections at the wound site, which were treated with long-term systemic antibiotics and reduced compression bandages with little effect. The wound has been static for months, and the wound history and appearance indicated the wound was critically colonized.
The patient reported severe pain at the wound site; she rated her pain level as 9 out of 10. Moderate levels of wound exudate caused maceration to the peri-wound skin, which contributed to the patient’s pain and made daily dressing changes necessary.
Intervention & Progress
At baseline, the wound measured 13 x 11 cm and was reported to be superficial. The wound bed was 90% covered in slough and 10% granulation tissue, with a suspected biofilm covering 100%. The granulation tissue was discolored and friable.
The wound was cleansed with warm water and AQUACELTM Ag+ dressing* was applied, along with an absorbent secondary dressing and reduced compression bandages. Daily dressing changes were maintained due to high exudate levels.
Baseline: 19 August 2013
Week 1: After just one week, the patient’s pain level was reduced to
5 out of 10 and exudate management was reported as much improved.