Improving Postoperative Surgical Wound Dressing Outcomes

Despite advances in surgical techniques, surgical site infections (SSI) and other surgical site complications (SSC) continue to be a challenge to clinicians and researchers across the globe.¹

SSCs and SSIs threaten outcomes in all surgical procedures. However, the right post-op dressing plays an integral role in patient recovery and their healing process.

The advancement of postoperative wound dressings has been driven by practical clinical innovation aimed at reducing complications such as surgical site infection (SSI), dehiscence and blistering.

The Jubilee Method shows reduction in blistering

One such development in the battle against SSCs was the “Jubilee dressing method”. Created at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank, Scotland, where clinicians layered 3–4 Aquacel™ dressings beneath a DuoDERM™ Extra Thin hydrocolloid, an ideal dressing for surgical incisions.²

The Jubilee Method arose after clinicians saw many blisters from traditional adhesive dressings. This led the team to pilot a new multilayer dressing, combining a Hydrofiber™ Aquacel™ layer with DuoDERM™ Extra Thin. This early audit showed a reduction in blistering from 19.5% to 3.5%, prompting broader evaluation of the approach.³

Image from study: The Jubilee method: a modern dressing design which reduces complications and is cost-effective following total hip and knee arthroplasty. Dillon JM, Clarke JV, Emmerson S, Kinninmonth AWG. Department of Orthopaedics, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland.

A subsequent prospective audit compared the “Jubilee Method” with their traditional adhesive dressing. The results showed a reduction in blistering from 18% to 2%, fewer dressing changes, longer wear times, fewer delays in discharge due to wound issues, and a lower rate of surgical site infection (3% to 1%).

These findings confirmed the clinical advantages of the Hydrofiber™ and hydrocolloid combination and supported its adoption.³

Inspired by these findings, Aquacel™ Surgical and Aquacel™ Ag Surgical were developed to combine the trusted technologies of Aquacel™ Hydrofiber™ technology with DuoDERM™ hydrocolloid, addressing the key challenges of surgical recovery and reducing the risk of blistering.

Supporting patients postoperative recovery

The Aquacel Surgical range of wound dressings are designed to offer patients a range of benefits throughout their wound healing recovery process and help to facilitate a reduced length of stay.

Stays in place

Dressings stay in place for up to 7-days helping you to minimise unnecessary dressing changes⁴ to keep the incision undisturbed and promote easier self care.²

Protects against contamination

The occlusive dressing design keeps the incision protected from external contamination and is viral, bacterial and waterproof allowing your patient to shower.⁵

Hydrofiber Technology provides infection control

The fibres within the hydrofiber technology form a cohesive gel, encapsulating large populations of potentially pathogenic bacteria, reducing the risk of infection.⁶

Aquacel Surgical Wound Dressings

Aquacel™ Surgical and Aquacel™ Ag Surgical dressings were developed in response to a defined customer need for a dressing to manage wounds as a result of surgical incision.²

The Aquacel™ Surgical dressing portfolio has a strong clinical heritage in supporting physicians to reduce the harmful consequences of SSCs demonstrated across multiple surgical studies and specialties. 

Aquacel™ Ag has the added benefit of ionic silver, that provides rapid and sustained anti-microbial activity and kills a broad range of pathogens within 30 minutes.⁷ Aquacel™ Ag Surgical is highly effective in providing fast and sustained anti-microbial activity against the most common SSI-associated pathogens.⁸