N. SMITH(1), C. BOUVIER(2) (1) Laboratoires Urgo, Clinical Market Researcher, Sullington Road, Shepshed, Leicestershire, UK (2) Laboratoires Urgo, Chenôve, France

1. USE OF A NEW HYDRO-DESLOUGHING
DRESSING* IN EXUDING AND SLOUGHY WOUNDS
N. SMITH(1), C. BOUVIER(2)
(1) Laboratoires Urgo, Clinical Market Researcher, Sullington Road, Shepshed, Leicestershire, UK
(2) Laboratoires Urgo, Chenôve, France
*Brand name: the new hydro-desloughing absorbent dressing is UrgoClean®

2. INTRODUCTION
The characteristics of the tissue within the wound bed play an important role in the wound
healing continuum. Slough is devitalised tissue that is usually moist, soft and often stringy
in consistency, it is usually yellow, white or grey in colour and must be removed so that
granulation can occur.
A new hydro-desloughing dressing* is now available for sloughy and moderately
exuding wounds, it has a high capacity to absorb exudate and trap sloughy residues. The
soft-adherent TLC layer ensures pain free and atraumatic removal.
The dressing is highly conformable and allows for one piece removal.
*Brand name: the new hydro-desloughing absorbent dressing is UrgoClean®

3. METHODOLOGY
60 patients gave their consent to be evaluated over 15 sites.
Wounds acceptable for inclusion were chronic exuding wounds in the desloughing phase,
acute wounds, cancerous wounds and lesions without any clinical signs of infection.
The evaluation was over a six week period – wound surface area and % of sloughy and
granulation tissue were measured and recorded on a weekly basis.
Primary end point was the % reduction in wound surface area.
Secondary end point - % reduction in slough, tolerance and acceptability of the dressing
by both clinicians and patients.

4. PATIENT 1
76-year-old suffering with
hypertension and a previous CVA
presented with a grade 3 pressure
ulcer of just over four months duration.
At inclusion the wound was covered
with 80% slough which had reduced
to 0% by week 6 and the wound
surface area had reduced by 82%.
Week 1
Week 6

5. PATIENT 2
An 84-year-old female with a chronic
leg ulcer of just over five months
duration.
Surrounding skin was very inflamed
and although the wound was stable
there had been no significant
improvement.
The wound was covered with 90%
slough which was completely
eliminated by week 6 and the
surrounding skin was healthy.
Week 1
Week 6

6. PATIENT 3
A 75-year-old male with a DFU
following amputation.
On inclusion the wound was covered
with 50% slough which was
eliminated by week 6.
By week 8 the wound had nearly
healed.
Application of the dressing was very
easy and conformability was excellent.
Week 1
Week 8

7. PATIENT 4
64-year-old male with a number of co-
morbidities who sustained a pre-tibial
laceration. Exuding high amounts the
wound was not progressing with
Cadexa-mor Iodine.
Treatment was commenced with the
new hydro-desloughing dressing*
and slough was totally eliminated
by week 6. Exudate was managed
well and wound surface area reduced
by 47%.
Week 1
Week 6
*Brand name: the new hydro-desloughing absorbent dressing is UrgoClean®

8. RESULTS
60 case studies were included in analysis of wound surface area reduction - mean
average reduction was 39.2% after six weeks.
Overall average reduction in slough of 67% after six weeks was also recorded.
Ease of removal Easy / Very Easy
Adherence on removal Minimal / None
Pain at removal None
One piece removal Yes
Bleeding at removal None
Maceration of the wound None
Ease of application Very Easy
Conformability Very good

9. Failure to eliminate slough will result in non-healing of a wound so correct management of
the wound bed is essential.
The results of this study demonstrate efficacy of the new hydro-desloughing dressing*
in the treatment of exuding and sloughy wounds.
This is combined with excellent tolerance by patients and acceptability by both clinicians
and patients.
CONCLUSION
*Brand name: the hydro-desloughing dressing is UrgoClean®