Product snapshot Resources

Many healthcare professionals recommend absorbent pads for men with urinary incontinence. These can be seen as easy to use and convenient (Chartier-Kastler et al, 2011), but potential odour and skin irritation are a significant concern (Williams and Moran, 2006; Gray, 2007). They can also impact dignity and quality of life (Williams and Moran, 2006). To provide a high level of holistic care, patients should be made aware of all suitable management options appropriate for them to be empowered to manage their bladder accordingly.

As part of a urinary collecting system, Conveen^® Optima sheaths meet the majority of users’ need for security, ease of use, comfort and discretion (Data on file). They are designed with features like the anti-kink bellow to ensure maximum security against leakage. This article looks at how healthcare professionals can support patients in finding an incontinence solution that is both effective and compatible with individual patient needs.

When the skin is subjected to prolonged or continuous exposure to moisture the result can be mild, moderate or severe skin damage known as moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) (Parnham et al, 2020). To ensure that the correct preventative or management strategy is implemented, it is vital to perform holistic assessment which should incorporate tools that help alert practitioners to potential damage and categorise existing skin damage (Parnham et al, 2020). One such tool, Skin Moisture Alert Reporting Tool (S.M.A.R.T), has been endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2019). As a result of assessment, different products will be selected depending on whether the skin is intact or there is mild, moderate or severe skin damage.

Prolonged or continuous exposure to moisture can disrupt the skin’s barrier properties and is known as moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) (Young, 2017). It can cause pain and discomfort to patients and significantly reduce their quality of life (Young, 2017). There are four distinct conditions that fall under the umbrella of MASD: incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), periwound and peristomal moistureassociated dermatitis and intertriginous dermatitis (Parnham et al, 2020).

Viscopaste and Ichthopaste bandages have been available in the wound care dressings market since the 1950s and 1930s respectively and are widely used within their clinical indications, primarily in lower limb management to treat leg ulcerations and the skin conditions associated with a leg ulcer. The products are commonly used within dermatology to manage chronic lichenified (thick and leathery) skin conditions, such as atopic eczema and dermatitis. Recently, Viscopaste and Ichthopaste bandages have been utilised in the management of skin conditions related to chronic oedema, for the treatment of patients with a diagnosis of red leg syndrome, which is often misdiagnosed as cellulitis (Elwell, 2014).

Chronic wounds create poor health (e.g. infection and immobility) and personal issues for patients (e.g. malodour, pain and sleepless nights), as well as substantial costs to healthcare systems (Guest et al, 2017; Atkin et al, 2019). They present many clinical challenges, but two key areas are wound bed preparation and exudate management (Atkin et al, 2019), which are intrinsically linked. A chronic or cavity wound bed which has not been prepared for healing through cleansing and debridement (Mahoney, 2020), containing slough, necrotic tissue or wound biofilm, usually produces a high volume of exudate (World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2019).

The human and economic burden of chronic wounds is increasing (Sen et al, 2009). In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that over 2.2 million wounds were treated by the National Health Service in 2012/13, at a cost of between £4.5 and £5.1 billion (Guest et al, 2015). Choice of wound dressing is therefore an important factor, not only in terms of comfort for the patient, but also in optimising clinical efficiency and thereby minimising treatment time and cost.

Production of wound exudate is a normal part of the wound healing process (Bajjada, 2017). This exudate can be viewed as ‘good’ , since it is essential for:

• Maintaining a moist wound interface
• Enabling immune mediators (such as lymphocytes and macrophages), proteases (protein-degrading-enzymes), and growth factors to extend into the wound
• Allowing the movement of tissue repairing cells (e.g. fibroblasts) across the wound bed
• Providing nutrients for cell metabolism (e.g. glucose and oxygen)
• Facilitating the separation of dead or damaged tissue by the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which break down damaged proteins and help in the process of autolysis (World Union of Wound Healing Societies [WUWHS], 2019).

Wound care costs are rising in the UK. Therefore, improved systems of care to address the clinical and economic burden on our healthcare provision is needed (Guest et al, 2015). It is reported that most chronic wounds contain biofilm. With an increasing understanding and acceptance of the role of biofilm within non-healing wounds, it is now widely recognised that wound treatment plans should incorporate methods to address the potential presence of biofilm (International Wound Infection Institute [IWII], 2016). The longer a wound remains open, the greater the risk of a biofilm developing and infection risk increasing (Percival et al, 2017).

Product snapshot: NEW TWO-TONE COMPRESSION GARMENTS

medi’s World of Compression is now launching three fashion elements for mediven 550 flat-knit leg garments and toe caps in the UK. The new colours and patterns offer patients with oedema nine possible combinations. The fashion elements have already been distinguished with the iF Award in the 'Product Design' category, as well as the 2017 Red Dot Design Award.

Continuous maintenance therapy with medical compression garments can increase patients' quality of life. medi’s World of Compression healthcare concepts stand for product quality, reliable indication-adapted patient management solutions and a stylish look. These fashion elements in the treatment of oedema are now available for the first time ever. This helps to motivate patients even more to persevere with their maintenance therapy and thus achieve success.