It will use case studies to examine the effects of appropriate and inappropriate dressing regimens.
Exudate plays a key role in wound healing; however, it can delay healing when there is too much or too little or it is in the wrong composition. Effective assessment and, crucially, effective management of exudate is therefore key to ensuring timely wound healing with less risk of complications. This is of increasing importance in the management of diabetic foot ulceration where failure to manage moisture balance increases the risk of limb-threatening infection.
Dressings are the mainstay of exudate management. Dressing selection should be individual to the patient and the location of the wound. The foot is notoriously difficult to dress with issues regarding adhesion, conformability and adaptation under weightbearing having an impact.
As discussed in the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2019) position document on exudate management, many factors will affect dressing selection, including wound bed tissue type, exudate level, wound depth, infection/biofilm and odour. In practice, dressing/device availability, reimbursement issues, clinician familiarity and patient preference are also likely to play important roles.
