MÖLNLYCKE HEALTHCARE MEPILEX® LITE DRESSINGS FROM MÖLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE EFFECTIVELY REDUCE RADIATION‐INDUCED ERYTHEMA
Data from a randomized trial to investigate the clinical effect of Mepilex® Lite dressings, clearly demonstrates that Mepilex Lite significantly reduces the severity of radiation‐induced erythema compared to standard aqueous creams.
The results of this study were orally presented at the European Wound Management Association (EWMA). It was published in British Journal of Radiology in 2010.
About 900,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer yearly, according to the World Health Organization, WHO. Erythema occurs in 80–90% of women treated for breast cancer with radiation therapy. Currently there is no standard treatment for radiation‐induced skin reactions. This study is the first to prove a clinically effective treatment that would make life a lot easier for women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
24 patients were presented with 34 erythematous areas of skin. Areas of skin from the same woman were in different areas of the breast, each receiving a different radiation dose. Each affected area was divided into two halves, one treated with Mepilex Lite dressings and the other with the standard aqueous cream. The results showed a significant reduction of the radiation‐induced erythema compared to the aqueous cream. Mepilex showed an average increase in RISRASi score to 1,7 when the aqueous cream saw an increase of 2,4.
Not only did Mepilex Lite show a clear reduction of radiation‐induced erythema. “The majority of the women also preferred the dressings over the cream and thought they increased the comfort levels,” said study leader Katie Diggelmann, Radiation Oncology Department, Southern Blood and Cancer Centre, Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand. “The amount of pain experienced decreased and the treatment did allow the women to wear normal clothing.”
“Mepilex Lite is a dressing that is now clinically proven to really lower these patients' suffering” said Magnus Enerbäck, Global Category Manager. “We are truly proud to be able to provide customers with products that help their patients to a better quality of life.”
SMITH & NEPHEW
Smith & Nephew introduces the first, pocket‐sized, canister‐free, portable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy system in the EU
The Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew, announced the CE Mark approval for PICO, an effective, single‐use, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) system for acute and chronic wounds, high‐risk surgical incisions and skin grafts. PICO allows effective fluid management directly through the dressing, eliminating canisters and expanding negative pressure to a wider number of patients. PICO is now available throughout the European Union (EU) and was officially unveiled at the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) conference taking place in Brussels, Belgium.
The PICO system contains a disposable, one‐button pump, coupled with an advanced dressing which negates the need for a bulky canister, simplifying NPWT. The pump is pocket‐sized for the utmost patient privacy and the innovative dressing can be worn up to seven days.
“A system like PICO that combines the clinical effectiveness of NPWT with the known benefits of advanced wound care dressings is an ideal solution for appropriate patients, especially those at high risk in the critical days following surgery,” said Professor Donald Hudson, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Groote Schuur Hospital. “PICO opens up some very interesting possibilities in treating many kinds of small to medium sized wounds in both hospital and outpatient settings.”
Preclinical studies show that PICO delivered pressure to the wound bed, tissue contraction and blood flow in a virtually identical fashion to standard NPWT. In vitro tests also show that PICO was able to deliver negative pressure and remove exudate at clinically relevant levels without the need for a canister. This effective and simplified NPWT technology makes PICO a practical solution that is readily available with minimal administration and training, allowing clinicians to make the most of their time and resources.
“At Smith & Nephew we believe it's our responsibility to achieve both superior patient outcomes as well as conserve resources for healthcare systems,” said Roger Teasdale, President of Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management. “As a leader in wound care, PICO demonstrates our pledge to providing innovative solutions and reinforces our commitment to reducing the human and economic cost of wounds.”
For more information about PICO, please visit www.mypico.co