Clinical benefit of a hydrocolloid dressing in closed surgical wounds.

A prospective, multicenter trial evaluated the clinical benefits of a new hydrocolloid wound dressing material (DuoDERM Extrathin; ConvaTec International, Skillman, N.J.) in a postoperative setting. Criteria assessed were patient quality of life (adherence of the dressing, showering or bathing possibilities, aspects of dressing changes), safety (incidence of infection), effectiveness (healing time), and clinical utility (ease of application and removal, ease of inspecting the wound through the dressing). Ninety-five patients with 102 sutured wounds were enrolled in the study during a period of 18 months. Forty-three wounds were in anatomic areas considered difficult to dress with such conventional materials as gauze and tape. The overall incidence of infection was 2%; the dressing was found not to be a causal factor. In five wounds, treatment had to be stopped before scheduled. Comfort rating by the patients and the investigators were "good" and "very good" in 95% and 92% of cases, respectively. A mean of 1.56 dressings per wound was used until removal of the sutures. Because of the reduction in the necessary number of dressing changes, hydrocolloid dressing may help in reducing treatment costs.