Small Intestinal Submucosa Wound Matrix for Chronic Wound Healing.

Chronic wounds represent a state where healing has stagnated. Venous, diabetic, and pressure ulcers are typically difficult to heal and are at high risk of becoming chronic. In an attempt to restart the healing of chronic wounds, many biologically important molecules, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and growth factors have been used to treat these wounds with varying degrees of success. Until recently, the idea of replacing the failing extracellular matrix (ECM) with an intact and biologically complex substitute was unknown. Small Intestinal Submucosa Wound Matrix (SISWM) is both a biologically complex and intact ECM, and an effective therapy for treating chronic wounds. A "drop in' replacement for the ECM of difficult to heal or chronic wounds helps to stimulate tissue ingrowth, deposition of new matrix, and rapid epithelialization-potentially leading to improved quality of life for patients.