[ep204] Topical Negative Pressure Choosing the Right Dressing: Developing a Pathway to Support Clinical Practice

Results / Discussion: The manufacturers of TNWP devices supply foam or gauze wound fillers. Gauze dressings are more flexible and can be easily packed into irregular cavities, undermining wounds and sinuses, they do not adhere to the wound and can be removed easily. Foam dressings allow for rapid development of strong granulation tissue, however this can ingress into the foam causing adherence, and a liner, is needed to ensure patients do not experience pain. To ensure the right dressing is selected an audit of nurses understanding of TNWP dressing selection was carried out along with exploration of patient experience, including pain at dressing changes and wound size reduction. The results are allowing for the development of a TNWP dressing selection pathway to ensure the right product for the right wound. This will be evaluated to determine if it has improved clinical decision making and reduced referrals to the tissue viability team.