Is there a cost to quality of life?​

This poster explores the use of two superabsorbent polymer dressings, Zetuvit® Plus Silicone Border and Zetuvit® Plus Silicone. Two patients were selected due to the complex needs of their wounds and the impact the wounds were having on their quality of life. To improve the wound healing outcomes for both patients the authors utilised a multidisciplinary approach to help deliver holistic care to the patients.

Patient A - lived at home with her husband and 2 young children. She had a diagnosis of bone cancer which had metastasised, and a hind quarter removal was carried out. Following discharge from hospital on 3rd September, clips were later removed and a silver contact dressing applied. The wound then dehisced on 14th September and dressings continued daily with the District Nurse. Various dressings had been applied including silver and a fiber dressing which the patient explained did not have an impact on the wound. Odour was identified by the patient as a problem and stated they did not like “wet smelly dressings” and did not like her children to be near to her due to the smell. Pain was also noted to be an issue with regular analgesia required.

Patient B - had suspected Bullous Pemphigoid which radiated from her left hip to her left thigh. The patient had lymphoedema which affected her mobility and other aspects of her quality of life. The patient had blisters that were caused by lymphoedema which would fill up and burst – sometimes this fluid was heamoserous. The area of the wound was conical and went full circumference of the leg. The patient was taking analgesia for the wound.

The District Nurses were immediately able to reduce dressing changes down to alternative days and were confident ‘strike through’ was being handled for these two days. After two dressing changes, the patient was switched to Zetuvit® Plus Silicone Border due to a reduction in wound size (smaller dressings could now be used). By 2nd November, the patient had fully healed (image B2). The patient commented “really happy with the dressing – it felt nice and healed wounds well”s.

Quality of life assessment should be of paramount importance to clinicians in initial wound assessment and throughout the patient journey. It is important to work with the patient to agree what aspects of wound care are important to them. The case studies in this poster highlight the impact that wounds can have on quality of life. By considering these factors in their assessment the authors demonstrated how appropriate selection of Zetuvit® Plus Silicone and Zetuvit® Plus Silicone Border can contribute to improving wound progression and in turn make a real difference to the patient’s quality of life.

• Ellen Davies, Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse - Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust
• Jodi Edge, Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse - Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust

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