Efficacy of Hydrophilic Gelling Wound Dressing for STSG Donor Sites after Removing Hydrogel Wound Dressing

Abstract

 Split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) are essential for burn wound broad skin deficiency. The post-harvest management of STSG donor sites is quite controversial. We prefer to use hydrogel wound dressings (Viewgel^®) for the first several days. Although hydrogel wound dressing is quite painless, it is a bit too moist for resurfacing, thus a second wound dressing after removal is necessary. Hydrophilic gelling wound dressing (Aquacel^® Ag) filled with saline is considered useful as a second dressing.
 Covering saline-filled Aquacel^® Ag with IV3000^® is our new method, and painless dressing change is compatible with smooth re-epithelialization.
 In a study of 8 STSG donor sites using our new method, the re-epithelialization time and infection was assessed. The re-epithelialization time was an average of 16.0 days and no infection was observed. During changing the dressing, children suffered no pain from Aquacel^® Ag treatment.
 This method causes less pain and shows no delay for resurfacing. Therefore, we consider this method useful for second donor site dressing.