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Biomedical subjects

R Gary Sibbald

Publications and source records attributed to R Gary Sibbald.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intact skin--an integrity not to be lost.

Maintaining skin integrity can be challenging but it is vital to overall health, particularly in elderly patients. In this population, skin integrity is frequently compromised as a result of under- or over-hydration, which may cause serious complications. Plans of care must include preventive efforts such as the use of barriers and protectants including zinc oxide preparations, petrolatum- and silicone-based ointments and creams, liquid-forming products, adhesive dressings, fluid managers, skin cleansers, and moisturizers. A team approach that includes the patient, caregivers, and healthcare professionals is needed to address patient concerns regarding independence/dependence, utilization of support systems and services, pain, and control of body fluids. The healthcare provider's role in this team should emphasize continuity of care, patient satisfaction, and product selection - all vital to protecting skin integrity.

Bandages↗

Preparing the wound bed 2003: focus on infection and inflammation.

Wound bed preparation is the promotion of wound closure through diagnosis of the cause, attention to patient-centered concerns, and correction of systemic and local factors that may delay healing. To enhance the evidence base that may be lacking, a review of relevant literature was conducted and combined with input from the International Wound Bed Preparation Advisory Board and the Canadian Chronic Wound Advisory Board to create an updated examination of practices. A template based on expert opinion of the clinical actions corresponding to each step in the paradigm of preparing the wound bed is presented and the effects of local factors (tissue debridement, infection or inflammation, moisture balance, and edge effect [TIME]) are discussed. This review differentiates increased bacterial burden/infection in the superficial and deep wound bed compartments from inflammation and provides a topical approach to treatment. Inflammatory conditions causing leg ulcers, including pyoderma gangrenosum and vasculitis are reviewed. The topical combination of silver with absorptive dressings has led to new therapeutic options for increased bacterial burden in the surface wound compartment. A compilation of the available systematic reviews for the treatment of infection has been included as a background for the expert opinion.

Acute Disease↗

A consensus report on the use of vacuum-assisted closure in chronic, difficult-to-heal wounds.

Vacuum-assisted closure is an adjunctive therapy that utilizes negative pressure to remove fluid from open wounds through a sealed dressing and tubing which is connected to a collection container. Although introduced into practice for individuals with chronic wounds, evidence to support its use is limited. To compensate for the current gap between the evidence base and the need for best vacuum-assisted closure practices in the treatment of chronic wounds, the existing evidence base (case reports, case series, and studies) for pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, heel ulcers, and venous leg ulcers was retrieved and tabulated from relevant literature in PubMed and other sources. In addition, expert opinion was obtained through an 11-member Delphi panel of interdisciplinary wound care opinion leaders and educators. The panel included frequent (6) and less-frequent (5) vacuum-assisted closure users. The tabulated responses and the existing literature formed the basis of the best practice statements that serve to guide treatment approaches and stimulate further study.

Algorithms↗

Searching for evidence-based medicine in wound care: an introduction.

During the last 10 years, wound care knowledge and treatment options, as well as the amount of information in the literature pertaining to wound and patient treatment options, have expanded rapidly. As a result, clinicians need to be able to review the existing literature with knowledge of the steps involved in evidence-based medicine. By identifying search strategies to improve information retrieval, time can be saved, new knowledge can be obtained, and with an understanding of clinical experience and patient-centered concerns, the best evidence for decision making can be utilized. The information retrieved can be categorized according to the level of evidence and clinical practice guidelines (documents in which an expert panel has reviewed the evidence and interpreted it for patient care) can be measured by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Instrument. Learning how to find and interpret the literature not only enhances clinical decision making, but it also may inspire additional inquiries that will add to the existing evidence base.

Benchmarking↗

Cost-effectiveness of becaplermin for nonhealing neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.

Foot ulcers secondary to peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease are a commonly occurring complication for people with diabetes. Becaplermin, a genetically-engineered growth factor in a hydrogel vehicle, has been shown to be more effective than vehicle-only control in healing chronic foot ulcers of patients with adequate vasculature receiving best clinical care. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding up to 20 weeks of becaplermin to a regimen of best clinical care, a 1-year decision-analytic model was developed and tested using data from a previously published controlled clinical study involving 251 people with diabetes (124 becaplermin/127 control) and adequate vasculature presenting with an infection-free ulcer that had failed to heal despite appropriate therapy. A 20-week healing rate was estimated based on the clinical trial data assuming becaplermin treatment was terminated at 10 weeks in non-responding ulcers, and follow-up data were extended to 1 year. Resource utilization was estimated by an expert panel using a modified Delphi approach. Using the model, it was found that incorporating becaplermin with best clinical care resulted in 26 fewer ulcer-days per patient per year compared to best clinical care alone with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $6 per ulcer-day averted. Results were sensitive to becaplermin cost, efficacy, and effect on infection and recurrence rates. The clinical benefits of becaplermin deserve further investigation to enhance cost-effectiveness information for informed treatment decisions.

Anticoagulants↗

Debridement: a vital component of wound bed preparation.

PURPOSE: To provide practitioners with an overview of debridement and its role in wound healing. TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses who assess and treat wounds. OBJECTIVES: After reading the article and taking the test, the reader should be able to: 1. Discuss the physiologic process of wound healing and the rationale for debridement. 2. Describe evidence-based indications for and methods of debridement.

Analgesics↗