Evaluation of a New Advanced Barrier Film to reduce wound exudate in a porcine model

A porcine model was used to test a new therapy being designed for patients who suffer from incontinence-associated dermatitis or general loss of skin integrity. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a new barrier film in helping control minor bleeding and exudate compared to untreated wounds in an animal model. Six Yorkshire pigs were prepped for sterile field surgery. On each pig, ten partial thickness wounds (2 x 2 in) were created using a dermatome set to 0.5mm thickness (5 on each side of the spine). Pressure was applied for 2 minutes with a gauze pad to reduce drainage. Treatments were applied in a randomized fashion, using 12 sites for the control group (uncoated) and 48 sites for the treatment (coated with the new barrier film). Wounds were allowed to dry for 5 minutes to ensure the treatment group was dry. Wound exudate was measured by collecting and weighing fluid from wounds immediately post creation and after 96 hours. Post wound creation, wounds treated with the new barrier film produced an average of 0.083 g of wound fluid compared to 0.238 g for untreated wounds (2.9 times more fluid for untreated wounds). All wounds were then covered with a foam dressing. After 96 hours, wounds treated with the new barrier film had produced an average 2.231 g of additional wound fluid compared 4.328 g for untreated wounds (1.9 times more fluid for untreated wounds). The difference between treatment groups was statistically significant at both time points (ANOVA test, p=0.001). This experiment demonstrated that a single application of the new barrier product successfully attached to intact peri-wound skin and to denuded, weepy skin. This product significantly reduced the amount of fluid weeping from the wounds and continued to perform throughout a 96 hours experiment.