Wound Care Protocols and Instructions

NOTE: All Silverlon Dressings are designed for 7 day use subject to exudate.

Surgical Wound Dehiscence

Surgical wounds that become infected with breakdown of the suture line, require suture removal and surgical debridement. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing is placed in direct contact with the cavitary wound surfaces. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing is covered with the dressing of choice of the treating health care provider. Such covering dressings might include gauzes, alginates, hydrogels and foams. The wound should be checked daily until a good granular tissue base is noted. The Silverlon® Wound Contact dressing should be changed when the dressing becomes covered with cellular debris and exudates.

Post Surgical Incisions

Surgical incisions may be covered with the Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing, the Silverlon® Wound Pad or the Silverlon® Island Dressing. Wetting the dressing with sterile water is recommended. For post surgical wounds with minimal drainage the dressing may be left in place for 5 to 7 days. Wetting the dressing in a shower is permissible but not soaking in a bath tube.

Lacerations

Lacerations may be covered with the Silverlon® Wound Pad and the Silverlon® Island Dressing. The dressings may be left in place for up to 7 days.

Animal Bites

Non venomous animal bites (cats and dogs) may be covered with Silverlon® Wound Pad or the Silverlon® Island Dressing. Acute cavitary lesions secondary to animal bites are packed with Silverlon® Wound Packing Strips. All animal bite wounds should be checked within 24 hours and appropriate oral antibiotics utilized. The effectiveness of the dressing is increased by wetting the Silverlon® Pad.

Abrasions

Abrasions may be covered with the Silverlon® Wound Pad or the Silverlon® Island Dressing. The effectiveness of the dressing is increased by wetting the Silverlon® Pad. The dressings may be left in place for up to 7 days.

Pressure Ulcerations

The depth and configuration of the pressure ulceration will determine the best Silverlon® Wound Dressing to apply. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing is best applied to cavitary wounds and covered with dressings of choice based upon cellular debris and exudates. The Silverlon® Wound Pad and Silverlon® Island Dressing is best applied to flat wounds and do not require covering dressings.

Diabetic Ulcerations

The depth and configuration of the diabetic ulceration will determine the best Silverlon® Wound Dressing to apply. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing or Silverlon® Wound Packing Strips are best applied to cavitary wounds and covered with dressings of choice. The covering dressing is dependent upon the amount of exudate available. The Silverlon® Wound Pad and Silverlon® Island Dressing is best applied to flat wounds and do not require covering dressings.

Venous Stasis Ulcerations

Coupled with the appropriate therapy to improve venous return, Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressings are applied directly to the surface of the ulceration. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing is moistened with sterile or distilled water and applied directly to the wound surface overlapping normal skin approximately one inch circumferentially. More than one layer may be applied; up to four layers folding or cutting the fabric is acceptable. For wounds with moderate –to –heavy exudate, the best results are achieved with multiple layers. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing (one to four layers) should be covered by a secondary dressing. The choice of the secondary dressing is based upon the judgment of the health care provider and selected from Silverlon® Pad Dressing, urathane foams, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, cottons or rayon gauzes. The dressing is covered with the compression of choice selected by the health care provider: e.g. System Four, Profore, Unna Boot etc. The dressings may remain in place up to 7 days based upon the amount of wound exudate and debris.

Epidermolysis Bullosa (simple, junctional, dystrophic)

The Silverlon® Wound Pad Dressings may be applied to epidermolysis bullosa cutaneous lesions. The principle function of the Silverlon® Wound Dressings is to support healing by a reduction of the bioburden of the wound and the creation of a microbial barrier. The application of the moistened Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressings covered with a Silverlon® Wound Pad and soft roller gauze and elastic tubular dressings is recommended. For optimal treatment outcome, it is recommended to change the dressing every second to third day.

Pyoderma Gangrenosa (ulcerative, pustular, bullous and vegetative)

The Silverlon® Wound Pad Dressings may be applied to pyoderma gangrenosa cutaneous lesions. The principle function of the Silverlon® Wound Dressings is to support healing by a reduction of the bioburden of the wound and the creation of a microbial barrier. The application of the moistened Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressings covered with a Silverlon® Wound Pad is recommended. Changing the dressing every second to third day is recommended.

Silverlon® Wound Dressings Applied with the V.A.C.®

Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressings can be applied as a wound contact layer between the wound surface and V.A.C.® (Vacuum Assisted Closure™) porous polyurathane foam sponge. The V.A.C.® assists in wound closure by applying localized negative pressure to the edges of the wound. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing is porous enough so as not to interfere with the negative pressure generated by the V.A.C. device. The Silverlon® Wound Contact Dressing should be placed directly onto the wound bed with 2 to 3 cm overlap onto wound margins, the VAC sponge is placed over the Silverlon, cut to fit the wound cavity. Size the film dressing just beyond the Silverlon edges. Change the Silverlon dressing when the VAC sponge is changed. To better prepare the wound bed for the initiation of the VAC, apply Silverlon 2 to 3 days prior to its use. Silverlon will lower the bioburden and exudate..

Silverlon® Wound Dressings Applied with Apligraf®

The Silverlon® Wound Pad may be applied on top of the Apligraf® dressing and left in place for 7 days. Size the Silverlon® Wound Pad Dressing to cover both the Apligraf and 2 to 3 cm of the wound margin. The Silverlon Wound Pad should be moistened with water and covered with a moist wound barrier dressing of choice. To minimize the risk of adhesion, place a non-adherent contact layer dressing between Apligraf and Silverlon. i.e. Mepitel, Tegapore, Conformant, etc. Remoisten the Silverlon Wound Pad with sterile water every 8 to 12 hours. This can be done without disturbing the wound site by pulling up one corner of the outer cover dressing and wetting the top pad layer of the Silverlon with a syringe.