ALLEVYN LIFE Prevention

As well as its use in the treatment of wounds, ALLEVYN LIFE dressings can also be used as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol^1-5

Pressure ulcers can be costly to both patients and the healthcare system. From a patient perspective, pressure ulcers can cause pain and restrict activity. They may also lead to increased hospitalisation, and there is an increased risk of infection with the breakdown in skin integrity. Pressure ulcers can impact patient quality of life and wellbeing.

For healthcare facilities, complications such as pressure ulcers may increase total treatment costs as well as lead to increased length of hospital stays and associated costs^6,7.

Increased focus on the prevention of avoidable pressure ulcers has resulted in a drive to implement comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention protocols, and the publication of global guidelines on pressure ulcer prevention¹.

ALLEVYN LIFE dressings, with their multi-layered design incorporating hydrocellular foam, a hyper-absorber lock away core and a protective masking layer, are designed to help redistribute pressure⁸ and can be used as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol to help prevent pressure ulcers^1-5.

In a recent evaluation in the acute care ICU of Eskenazi Health, Indianopolis, US, ALLEVYN LIFE was used as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol consistent with International guidelines⁴.

Implementation of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol including the use of ALLEVYN LIFE resulted in...

• A reduction in the incidence of pressure ulcers by 69%⁴
• A cost saving of approximately $1 million⁴

References

¹ National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.) Cambridge Media: Osborne Park, Western Australia; 2014.

² Brendle T. Preventing sacral pressure ulcer development in the surgical patient population. Poster presented at OR manager Conference 2015.

³ Clarke B. Positive patient outcomes: The use of a new silicone adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Poster presented at CAET 2013.

⁴ Swafford K, Culpepper R and Dunn C. Use of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit setting. E-Poster presented at EWMA 2015.

⁵ Lisco C. Evaluation of a new silicone gel-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing as part of a pressure ulcer prevention plan for ICU patients. Poster presented at 2013 WOCN Society Conference.

⁶ Santamaria, N. et al., The cost-benefit of using soft silicone multilayered foam dressings to prevent sacral and heel pressure ulcers in trauma and critically ill patients. International Wound Journal, 2013. 

⁷ Vanderwee, K., et al.  Pressure ulcer prevalence in Europe: a pilot study. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 13: 227–235.  2007

⁸ Data on File Report DS/12/125/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Impact protection properties of ALLEVYN LIFE, Mepilex^TM Border and Biatain^TM Silicone.

⁹ OR DOF 020 Performance of silicone dressings – ALLEVYN LIFE and Mepilex Border.

¹⁰ Rossington A et al.,  Clinical performance and positive impact on patient wellbeing of ALLEVYN LIFE. Wound UK. 9(4): 91-95. 2013

¹¹ Data on file report DS/12/123/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Physical properties of ALLEVYN LIFE.

All Trademarks acknowledged

Recently published global guidelines¹ on pressure ulcer prevention state:

“Consider applying a polyurethane foam dressing to bony prominences (e.g., heels and sacrum) for the prevention of pressure ulcers in anatomical areas frequently subjected to friction and shear”.

ALLEVYN LIFE has a multi-layer design and has been shown to redistribute pressure (in-vitro)⁸, it also has several other key features that compliment its use as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol.

• Comfortable and conformable, the unique shape fits closely to the body⁹
• Gentle and easy to reposition^10,11
• Suitable for even fragile skin¹⁰
• Available in quadrilobe, heel and sacrum shapes

A pressure redistribution comparison study measured the pressure transferred through dressings when pressure was applied to the dressings’ surface, using a probe. 1000mmHg was applied to both dressings.⁸

References

¹ National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.) Cambridge Media: Osborne Park, Western Australia; 2014.

² Brendle T. Preventing sacral pressure ulcer development in the surgical patient population. Poster presented at OR manager Conference 2015.

³ Clarke B. Positive patient outcomes: The use of a new silicone adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Poster presented at CAET 2013.

⁴ Swafford K, Culpepper R and Dunn C. Use of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit setting. E-Poster presented at EWMA 2015.

⁵ Lisco C. Evaluation of a new silicone gel-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing as part of a pressure ulcer prevention plan for ICU patients. Poster presented at 2013 WOCN Society Conference.

⁶ Santamaria, N. et al., The cost-benefit of using soft silicone multilayered foam dressings to prevent sacral and heel pressure ulcers in trauma and critically ill patients. International Wound Journal, 2013. 

⁷ Vanderwee, K., et al.  Pressure ulcer prevalence in Europe: a pilot study. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 13: 227–235.  2007

⁸ Data on File Report DS/12/125/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Impact protection properties of ALLEVYN LIFE, Mepilex^TM Border and Biatain^TM Silicone.

⁹ OR DOF 020 Performance of silicone dressings – ALLEVYN LIFE and Mepilex Border.

¹⁰ Rossington A et al.,  Clinical performance and positive impact on patient wellbeing of ALLEVYN LIFE. Wound UK. 9(4): 91-95. 2013

¹¹ Data on file report DS/12/123/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Physical properties of ALLEVYN LIFE.

All Trademarks acknowledged

Evidence for the use of ALLEVYN LIFE dressings as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol is growing, see some recent publications below.

Positive patient outcomes: The use of a new silicone adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment⁵

Beth Clarke, RN, Msc(A), MBA, CWOCN

Pressure ulcers are a significant issue for patients across all care settings globally and most hospital acquired pressure ulcers are preventable when effective risk assessment is matched with appropriate interventions. This study outlines the results at Bridgepoint Active Healthcare hospital in Toronto, following the implementation of ALLEVYN Life as an addition to its existing pressure ulcer prevention protocol within the neurological care unit and for wound management in the medical activation unit.

Preventing Sacral Pressure Ulcer Development in the Surgical Patient Population⁴

Timothy A. Brendle, MS, RN, CNOR, NE-BC

It is estimated that 23% of hospital acquired pressure ulcers are the result of the patient undergoing a surgical procedure. This study outlines the results at Ashley River Tower where a silicone hydrocellular foam sacral dressing was implemented within the perioperative area as part of an overall pressure ulcer prevention program.

Use of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit setting – summary⁶

Katie Swafford, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CCRN, Rachel Culpepper, RN, BSN, CCRN, Christina Dunn, RN, BSN.

Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers (HAPUs) are costly and preventable complications. The study from Eskenazi Health shows the results when an acute care ICU implemented a pressure ulcer prevention protocol consistent with international guidelines and in addition implemented ALLEVYN LIFE dressings to be placed on heel and sacral locations. The goal was to reduce incidence of pressure ulcers by 50% compared to the period prior to implementation.

Evaluation of a new silicone gel-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing as part of a pressure ulcer prevention plan for ICU patients⁷

Charlotte Lisco, BSN, RN, CWON

The use of foam dressings as part of a pressure ulcer prevention protocol is gaining traction in the US. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new silicone-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing (ALLEVYN LIFE) as part of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention plan to reduce sacral/coccyx pressure ulcers in a 24 bed ICU.

References

¹ National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.) Cambridge Media: Osborne Park, Western Australia; 2014.

² Brendle T. Preventing sacral pressure ulcer development in the surgical patient population. Poster presented at OR manager Conference 2015.

³ Clarke B. Positive patient outcomes: The use of a new silicone adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Poster presented at CAET 2013.

⁴ Swafford K, Culpepper R and Dunn C. Use of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit setting. E-Poster presented at EWMA 2015.

⁵ Lisco C. Evaluation of a new silicone gel-adhesive hydrocellular foam dressing as part of a pressure ulcer prevention plan for ICU patients. Poster presented at 2013 WOCN Society Conference.

⁶ Santamaria, N. et al., The cost-benefit of using soft silicone multilayered foam dressings to prevent sacral and heel pressure ulcers in trauma and critically ill patients. International Wound Journal, 2013. 

⁷ Vanderwee, K., et al.  Pressure ulcer prevalence in Europe: a pilot study. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 13: 227–235.  2007

⁸ Data on File Report DS/12/125/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Impact protection properties of ALLEVYN LIFE, Mepilex^TM Border and Biatain^TM Silicone.

⁹ OR DOF 020 Performance of silicone dressings – ALLEVYN LIFE and Mepilex Border.

¹⁰ Rossington A et al.,  Clinical performance and positive impact on patient wellbeing of ALLEVYN LIFE. Wound UK. 9(4): 91-95. 2013

¹¹ Data on file report DS/12/123/DOF, June 2012. Roberts S. Physical properties of ALLEVYN LIFE.

All Trademarks acknowledged

Pressure Ulcer Prevention – Quick reference guide

ALLEVYN LIFE OR Positioning Guide