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Introduction
Extract from;
Cleansing chronic leg ulcers with Perifoam :
GARY BAIN RN MClinEd BN DipApSc
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Director Wound Management Services
Sydney Adventist Hospital
ABSTRACT
Cleansing chronic wounds is a ritualistic and time honoured practice. Leg ulcers generally harbour volumes of bacteria, dressing debris, devitalised tissue and exudate. Delayed wound repair, malodour and ulcer pain are not uncommon sequelae. Washing wounds with a tea-tree oil based foam seemed to moderate these phenomena.
BACKGROUND
Debate exists as to the value of washing down obviously healing wounds (1) . However, the cleaning of ulcers containing devitalised tissue, dressing debris, exudate accumulation and malodour seems to be a widely accepted practice(2) . Since 2006, the Sydney Adventist Hospital 's Wound Clinic has utilised Perifoam (Bio-Assist Industries) in the wound cleansing of chronic lower leg ulcers.
Perifoam's cleansing ingredients are largely derived from surfactants and complex alcohols, whilst its antibacterial actions are based on Tea-Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). Indigenous Australians recognised the antiseptic and mild anaesthetic properties of Tea-Tree Oil. Its anti-inflammatory effects were described in more recent times(3) .
Since commencing Perifoam, Wound Clinic patients and staff have reported the following qualitative phenomena :
- Reduction in wound malodour.
- Gradual decrease in peri-wound erythema.
- Gentler wound cleansing and therefore reduced pain during this procedure.
- Easier removal of soft, proteinaceous wound surface matter.
Complete trial results available on request from Bio Assist Industries
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