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Use of ultrasound to characterise the fluid-handling characteristics of four foam dressings.

OBJECTIVE
To observe and measure the process of hydration and dehydration in four commonly used adhesive foam dressings using high frequency ultrasound.


METHOD
High frequency ultrasound (20MHz) with an axial resolution of 60 microm was used to image the inside of the wound dressings under investigation and thereby assess their level of hydration. This allowed the uptake of a bolus of fluid into the dressing via absorption and the subsequent loss of fluid via evaporation to be both observed and measured. Four dressings were assessed:ActivHeal Foam Island (10 x 10cm), Allevyn Adhesive (10 x 10 cm), Biatain Adhesive (12 x 12cm), and Mepilex Border (10 x 10 cm).


RESULTS
Part I showed that Allevyn hydrated most rapidly followed byActivHeal, Biatain and Mepilex. Part 2 indicated that Allevyn dehydrated most rapidly followed by Mepilex,ActivHeal and Biatain.


CONCLUSION
High frequency ultrasound proved to be an effective tool in assessing the fluid handling properties of wound dressings. Of the dressings tested Allevyn demonstrated the best fluid handling properties in terms of how rapidly it could hydrate and dehydrate.