The silver-releasing foam dressing, Contreet Foam, promotes faster healing of critically colonised venous leg ulcers: a randomised, controlled trial.

Abstract

The study compared the effect of a sustained silver-release foam dressing (Contreet Foam) with a foam dressing (Allevyn Hydrocellular) without added silver in critically colonised venous leg ulcers with delayed healing. The study was a multicentre, open, randomised, controlled study lasting for 4 weeks. Ulcer area and healing were assessed weekly. Odour, maceration, absorption capacity and leakage were evaluated at dressing changes. All adverse events were recorded. One hundred and twenty-nine patients were included (Contreet Foam: 65, Allevyn Hydrocellular: 64). The two groups were comparable in all respects. After 4 weeks, there was a significantly greater reduction in ulcer area in the Contreet Foam group (45%) than in the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (25%). After 1 and 4 weeks, odour was present in significantly less of the ulcers in the Contreet Foam group (17% and 19%, respectively) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (47% and 39%, respectively) and at the final visit there were significantly fewer leakages in the Contreet Foam group (19%) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (49%). Also, less maceration was observed after 1 and 4 weeks in the Contreet Foam group (34% and 37%, respectively) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (55% and 48%, respectively). The occurrence and cause of adverse events were equally distributed between the study groups. The present study provides evidence of the superior performance of the silver-releasing dressing, Contreet Foam, compared with a traditional moist foam wound healing dressing in the treatment of critically colonised, chronic venous leg ulcers. The results of this randomised, controlled study suggest an important role of sustained silver-releasing dressings in the treatment of critically colonised chronic wounds.

• Authors: Bo Jørgensen, Patricia Price, Klaus E Andersen, Finn Gottrup, Niels Bech-Thomsen, Elizabeth Scanlon, Robert Kirsner, Henriette Rheinen, Jytte Roed-Petersen, Marco Romanelli, Gregor Jemec, David J Leaper, Martino Ha Neumann, Joep Veraart, Stefan Coerper, Rikke H Agerslev, Susanne H Bendz, Jan R Larsen, R Gary Sibbald
• Journal: International wound journal (Int Wound J) Vol. 2 Issue 1 Pg. 64-73 (Mar 2005) ISSN: 1742-4801 [Print] England
• PMID: 16722854 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Polyurethanes
• Silver Compounds
• allevyn

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Bandages, Hydrocolloid
• Delayed-Action Preparations (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polyurethanes
• Quality of Life
• Silver Compounds (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Varicose Ulcer (pathology, therapy)
• Wound Healing (drug effects)
• Wound Infection (therapy)