A Randomized Controlled Study of Silver-Based Burns Dressing in a Pediatric Emergency Department

This study sought to determine whether silver sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Aquacel® Ag, ConvaTec, Greensboro, NC) dressing is a superior treatment to nanocrystalline silver-coated polyethylene (Acticoat™, Smith & Nephew, London, United Kingdom) dressing in pediatric patients with partial thickness burns. The authors conducted a single-blind, randomized controlled trial in 89 patients presenting to Starship Children’s Emergency Department with uncomplicated partial-thickness burns. Patients were randomized to receive either an Acticoat™ (n = 45) or Aquacel® Ag (n = 44) dressing. Photographs of the burn before dressing and at day 10 were assessed by two blinded pediatric burn surgeons to determine the primary outcome and percentage epithelialization. Secondary outcomes were number of dressing changes required and number and type of adverse events. Both treatment groups achieved satisfactory rates of burn healing. There was no difference between groups in the percentage epithelialization at day 10 (Acticoat™ [mean ± SD] = 93 ± 14%; Aquacel® Ag = 94 ± 17%, P = .89). Adverse events such as infection and escalation of care were rare, with no difference detected between groups. Compared with Acticoat™, Aquacel® Ag dressings required significantly less dressing changes per patient {Acticoat™ [median (interquartile range)] = 2 (2–2), Aquacel® Ag=1 (1–1), P = .03}. Both Acticoat™ and Aquacel® Ag dressings are effective burn dressings, allowing reep...
Source: Journal of Burn Care and Research - Category: Rehabilitation Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research