In Vitro Comparison of the Viscous Fluid Vertical Wicking Abilities of Two Superabsorbent Wicking Dressings

Both acute and chronic wounds require proper wound exudate management because exudate can be harmful to the wound healing process. Wounds with excess wound exudate are susceptible to skin breakdown because the skin has been weakened by the caustic elements present in wound exudate. Excess wound exudate may also lead to periwound maceration, which has been correlated with poor wound healing, and the wound may enter into a vicious cycle of chronicity. Proper management of excess wound exudate is key in achieving optimal wound healing.  A new three-layer wicking dressing* that directs exudate from the wound bed into a superabsorbent second layer. The purpose of this in vitro evaluation is to compare vertical viscous fluid wicking capabilities of a new three-layer wicking dressing with a super absorbent layer to the leading competitive hydroconductive dressing^.

For ten samples of each dressing, a 1 in by 12 in strip of the wicking layer was taken from the whole dressing. The strip was then suspended in water for a minute. The height the water wicks upward was recorded. This process was repeated with increasingly viscous fluids that simulate wound exudate. The testing was repeated for both dressings in their native three-layer designs.

Clinically, optimal wound exudate management removes the excess exudate from the wound bed to help promote wound healing. The single wicking layer test data shows that the new three-layer wicking dressing and the leading competitive hydroconductive dressing have comparable wicking abilities.  The wicking results of the native three-layer designs were also comparable. The new three-layer dressing may aid in exudate management. Further studies are warranted.