An evaluation of 3M Tegaderm Superabsorber dressing using an exudate management algorithm

Exudate plays a vital role in wound healing by providing the wound with nutrients and creating an essential moist wound healing environment. However, high levels of exudate can become problematic and, in some wounds, increased levels of exudate can then become detrimental to wound healing and the surrounding tissue. This increase in exudate can be influenced by a variety of factors and its cause is not always taken into account within a management plan. This article presents the outcomes of a 10-patient case series selected for treatment with Tegaderm Superabsorber (3M) dressing using an exudate management/dressing selection algorithm. Overall, 9 of the 10 patients showed improvements in wound-related assessment parameters when their treatment was changed to include the superabsorbent dressing. One patient was withdrawn. Previous treatments had not included superabsorbent products. This case series of highly exudating wounds has demonstrated effective clinical outcomes using the Tegaderm Superabsorber dressing and reports the positive progress of wound symptoms and patient factors associated with better management of high levels of exudate.