I have a patient who had a failed mesh placement and a panniculectomy and who has developed at least three separate fistulas with a very large amount of output (3-4 L/24 hrs). Any suggestions? I am using an Eakin wound management pouch hooked up to wall suction.
Additional Tables Available from the November AAWC Special
- Thu, 12/8/11 - 2:36pm
- 0 Comments
- 925 reads
In the November issue of OWM, representatives of North American Wound Care Council organizations (AAWC, AMCICHAC, CAET, CAWC, NPUAP, and WHS) mined the content validation data and evidence tables used to develop the AAWC "Guideline of Pressure Ulcer Guidelines" to provide OWM readers with objective criteria for identifying needs for pressure ulcer research and/or education.
>>Read the article here – http://www.o-wm.com/content/understanding-pressure-ulcer-research-and-ed...
Is Gauze a Standard of Care?
- Wed, 9/1/10 - 10:10am
- 0 Comments
- 2414 reads
As we continue to use science to expose common nonsense, we ask, Have you ever seen controlled clinical trials that used gauze or impregnated gauze as a “standard of care” control? Half a century ago, we learned that chronic1 and acute2 human wounds heal faster if kept moist. Since then, considerable research showed that moist wound environments for acute or chronic, partial- or full-thickness wounds reduce infection rates,3 pain,4,5 healing time,5,6 and costs of care7,8 compared to gauze. This is “old news.
Does Time Heal All Wounds?
- Thu, 5/6/10 - 11:19am
- 0 Comments
- 26247 reads
While conducting a study to see if an evidence-based algorithm for wound care worked in the real world,1 we noticed that some patients’ wounds stopped progressing when nearly healed. Data analysis showed that their caregivers were switching to gauze dressings. When asked why, they said it was “because the wound was almost healed and didn’t need evidence-based dressings any more.” The care-givers were acting as though time would heal the wounds.
Today we know this is nonsense. Those caregivers might have changed their minds about time healing wounds if they had tracked pr
Straight talk about dressing MTVR
- Wed, 3/10/10 - 11:43am
- 0 Comments
- 1744 reads
We’ve all experienced opinions that don’t make sense but are repeated so often they are generally accepted. I call these “Common Nonsense” after Tom Paine’s famous pamphlet Common Sense that helped foment US independence. By questioning authority, we open our minds to learning nature’s truths and applying them to improve patient outcomes. If we don’t learn, natural truths continue to baffle us with poor outcomes, making life a puzzle we don’t understand. Scientific method helps us learn without bias what nature tells us so all who dare can follow.
Let’s start with dress
Your Role in Guideline Validation
- Mon, 10/12/09 - 10:14am
- 0 Comments
- 2263 reads
Laura Bolton, PhD
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Surgery, Bioengineering Section
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Retired after 32 years in wound care science, I am devoted to ensuring patients receive care based on the best available evidence. As so many OWM readers have taught me, we all are responsible for helping patients. During my post-retirement years, I plan to summarize wound care evidence to make it simple and easy for busy professionals to apply and use to improve patient outcomes. This is why I agreed to serve on the OWM Editorial
