Clinical Problem: A 59 year old female was diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymph node biopsy on March 11th. The patient was unable to work. She followed up with her primary care physician 2 weeks post surgery to remove staples from her abdominal incision. At that time she was noted to have a wound infection and was diagnosed with an abdominal cellulitis and started on oral antibiotics for 10 days. There was no improvement and the patient was hospitalized in April. A wound biopsy was performed with the results indicating pyoderma gangrenosum. The patient was started on oral steroid therapy.

Description Of Past Mangement: The wound management included hydrofiber dressing that was found unsuccessful. She complained of increased pain with the wound care and dressing changes. The patient was placed on pain medication to decrease pain during dressing changes. No wound improvement was noted and the patient was referred to the wound center on May 2nd. A wound care nurse was consulted for wound care.

Current Clinical Approach: The new wound management included post wound debridement of necrotic tissue and polymeric membrane dressing was initiated. The wound care/dressing management included changing the polymeric membrane dressing three times per week. The abdominal wound measured approximately 21cm x 34.5cm with a depth .3cm, large amount of serous drainage, small amount of necrotic tissue and large amount of granulation tissue present to the wound bed. Polymeric membrane dressings are soft, flexible, absorbent, nonadherent and relieve wound pain.

Patient Outcome: The wound was healed within 45 days of initiation of polymeric membrane dressings.

Conclusion: Polymeric membrane dressings are excellent dressings to use on necrotizing, inflammatory skin diseases/wounds to manage exudate and relieves pain to wound bed and during dressing changes.