Moldable skin barrier effective for elderly patients with ostomy
A study in Gastroenterology Nursing reports that compared to a conventional skin barrier, a moldable skin barrier significantly improves self-care satisfaction scores in elderly patients who have a stoma. The moldable skin barrier also caused less irritant dermatitis and the costs for leakage-proof cream were lower.
“The application of a moldable skin barrier in the self-care of elderly ostomy patients” included 104 patients ages 65 to 79 who had a colostomy because of colorectal cancer.
Risk factors for severe hypoglycemia in older adults with diabetes identified
“Risk factors associated with severe hypoglycemia in older adults with Type 1 diabetes” include glucose variability and greater lack of awareness of hypoglycemia.
Participants in the case-control, multi-center study, published in Diabetes Care, were age 60 or older and had a history of diabetes dating back 20 years or more.
Thermal imaging via smartphone helps detect inflammation
Early detection of inflammation in wounds promotes early treatment, and clinicians may have an additional assessment tool available to them. A recent study published in the Journal of Wound Care concludes the FLIR ONE, a thermography device that connects to a smartphone, can be successfully used to assess subclinical inflammation in patients with pressure ulcers and diabetic foot in clinical settings.
“Use of smartphone attached mobile thermography assessing subclinical inflammation: A pilot study” included 16 thermal images from eight patients and found good criterion-related validity and inter-rater reliability when the FLIR ONE results were compared to those from a handheld device. The findings may open the door to more thermal imaging assessment at the bedside.
Role of skin substitutes in treatment of diabetic foot ulcers analyzed
“Systematic review and meta-analysis of skin substitutes in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers,” published in Wound Repair and Regeneration, concludes that skin substitutes “can, in addition to standard care, increase the likelihood of achieving complete ulcer closure compared with standard care alone in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer.”
The authors caution, however, that long-term effectiveness, including limb salvage and recurrence, is not known, and cost-effectiveness is not clear. The review included 17 randomized clinical trials, with a total of 1,655 patients.
Tap water safe alternative for wound cleaning
“Tap water is a safe alternative to sterile normal saline for wound cleansing in a community setting,” concludes a study in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing.
“Tap water versus sterile normal saline in wound swabbing: A double-blind randomized controlled trial” studied 22 people with 30 wounds. Half were in the tap water group and half in the sterile normal saline group. Researchers found no differences in the proportion of wound infection and healing between the two groups.
Review of skin grafting in patients with chronic leg ulcers
Autologous split-thickness skin grafting remains the gold standard in terms of safety and efficacy for chronic leg ulcers, according to a review article in International Wound Journal.
“Skin grafting for the treatment of chronic leg ulcers—a systematic review in evidencebased medicine” also found that skin grafts are more successful in patients who have chronic venous leg ulcers, compared to other types. The researchers noted that skin tissue engineering is “rapidly expanding” and holds promise for better outcomes when treating patients with long-lasting chronic wounds.
C difficile may be risk factor for pouch failure after reconstruction
Patients with a history of preoperative Clostridium difficile colitis may be at higher risk for pouch failure after ileal pouchanal anastomosis reconstruction following total proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis, according to a study in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
The authors of “Clostridium difficile infection in ulcerative colitis: Can alteration of the gut-associated microbiome contribute to pouch failure?” defined pouch failure as permanent ostomy diversion or pouch excision. Of 417 patients in the study, 28 (6.7%) developed pouch failure.
Lymphedema education lacking
Researchers of a study in the Journal of Cancer Education report that only 19.9% of 180 women with lymphedema after breast cancer surgery reported they had received education or information about the condition postoperatively.
“The importance of awareness and education in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema” also reports that, “The degree and duration of lymphedema were lower in patients who had been informed or educated about lymphedema as compared to the patients who had not been informed or educated, but the difference was not statistically significant.”
Color charts help improve pressure ulcer risk assessment
“Use of Munsell color charts to measure skin tone objectively in nursing home residents at risk for pressure ulcer development,” published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, concludes that the color charts provide a “more objective measurement of skin tone than demographic categories.”
The researchers state that use of the charts can improve pressure ulcer risk assessment when current clinical guidelines are less effective.
