A Comparison of Post-Sternotomy Dressings
Impaired Wound Healing, Postoperative Wound Infection-deep
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Impaired Wound Healing focused on measuring Sternotomy incision, Silver dressing, Sternal wound infection
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult (at least 21 years of age) inpatients awaiting cardiac surgery or outpatients seen in the pre-surgical testing area prior to admission for surgery
- Having surgery at the study setting
- English-speaking
- Able to understand and give consent
- Had the approval of their cardiothoracic surgeon to participate
- Had no known sensitivity to silver
- Had no known sensitivity to alginates
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known sensitivity to silver
- Known sensitivity to alginates
Sites / Locations
- Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Other
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Dry Sterile Dressing
Metallic Silver Dressing
Ionic Silver Dressing
Subjects in this study arm received a dry sterile dressing (Primapore®, Smith & Nephew), a one-piece, peel-and-stick, non-transparent dressing. This dressing is the standard of care at the study facility for this population and was left in place for either 24 to 48 hours.
Subjects in this arm received a metallic silver dressing (Acticoat Post-Op®, Smith & Nephew), a one-piece, peel-and-stick and non-transparent dressing. This dressing is an absorbent postoperative dressing consisting of a nanocrystalline silver-coated polyurethane layer, a white polyurethane foam and an adhesive coated waterproof polyurethane film layer. Acticoat Post-Op may be left in place over a wound for up to 7 days. The manufacturers note that the product should not be used in patients with known silver allergies and that it may cause transient discoloration of the skin.
Subjects in this arm received an ionic silver dressing (Dermanet Ag®, DeRoyal), a semi-transparent dressing that includes silver, alginate, and maltodextrin. The dressing was cut to fit the incision and then covered with a transparent dressing (Transseal®, DeRoyal). This dressing should not be used on patients with known sensitivity to alginates (a seaweed based component).