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Wounds produce exudate (they weep) as part of the natural cleansing and healing process. It is important for a wound dressing to absorb this exudate but manage it in a way that does not dry out the wound. It is clinically proven that wounds heal faster and better in a moist environment.

ALLEVYN^◊ is a clinically proven advanced moist wound healing product for the management of chronic and exuding wounds such as pressure ulcers and leg ulcers, and acute wounds, such as donor sites.

Chronic wounds can be large and difficult to heal and pose a very serious problem to the healthcare professionals and the patients affected.

Smith & Nephew produces a range of ALLEVYN^◊ dressings to cater for a wide range of wound types, sizes and locations offering clinicians an excellent choice in terms of matching dressings to patient needs.

The original ALLEVYN^◊ dressings have a unique triple-layered construction which is comprised, of a breathable polyurethane top film, a highly absorbent hydrocellular foam core and a non-adherent wound contact layer to allow for promotion of faster healing of wounds.

As part of a continuous programme of innovation of the ALLEVYN^◊ brand, in response to the needs of patients and clinicians, Smith & Nephew have recently launched new and improved versions of two key products within the ALLEVYN^◊ range; ALLEVYN^◊ Adhesive and ALLEVYN^◊ Sacrum. These products now have up to three times increased fluid handling capacity.

The new ALLEVYN^◊ Adhesive dressings now have a more breathable dynamic top film and a faster rate of fluid uptake.  This combined with the existing benefits of ALLEVYN^◊ enables the promotion of faster healing by reducing the risk of maceration and maintaining an optimal moist wound environment.

Together with the benefits of the other products in the range, ALLEVYN^◊, the global leading foam dressing in advanced wound management offers the clinician a clinically proven range of dressings that provide a cost effective solution for both the clinician and the buyer.

ACTICOAT^◊  with SILCRYSTT^◊ Nanocrystals are a unique range of antimicrobial barrier dressings, used in woundcare to help prevent infection, a recognised barrier to healing in full and partial thickness wounds.

An outbreak of wound infection can lead to increased nursing time; extended hospital stays, increasing healthcare costs, as well as affecting patient quality of life.

ACTICOAT^◊ dressings rapidly kill a broad spectrum of bacteria in as little as 30 minutes (in-vitro) and are effective for at least 3 days. The ACTICOAT^◊ Range of dressings help protect the wound site from bacterial contamination to assist faster healing.

Products within the range include:

ACTICOAT^◊
A dressing which consists of three layers: an absorbent inner core sandwiched between outer layers of silver coated, low adherent polyethylene net. Nanocrystalline silver protects the wound site from bacterial contamination while the inner core helps maintain the moist environment optimal for wound healing. ACTICOAT^◊ can be left in place for up to 3 days.

ACTICOAT^◊ 7
ACTICOAT^◊ 7 with SILCRYSTT^◊ Nanocrystals is an effective antimicrobial barrier dressing. The nanocrystalline coating of silver rapidly kills a broad spectrum of bacteria in as little as 30 minutes (in-vitro) and is effective for up to 7 days. The ACTICOAT^◊ 7 dressing consists of five layers: two layers of an absorbent inner core sandwiched between three layers of silver coated, low adherent polyethylene net.

ACTICOAT^◊ Absorbent
ACTICOAT^◊ Absorbent combines all the benefits of nanocrystalline silver with a highly absorbent alginate. The nanocrystalline silver coated dressing forms a gel in contact with exudate, to provide a moist wound environment and the antimicrobial power of silver delivered within the dressing and to the wound bed.

ACTICOAT^◊ Moisture Control
The latest addition to the Smith & Nephew portfolio, ACTICOAT^◊ Moisture Control is an absorbent antimicrobial dressing, which offers the antimicrobial protection synonymous with ACTICOAT^◊ & SILCRYST^◊ nanocrystalline silver, in a highly absorbent, easy to use format. The product consists on a silver coated wound contact layer, a highly absorbent foam and a waterproof top film which can be left in place for up to 7 days for cost effective wound management.

All products within the ACTICOAT^◊ Range provide effective antimicrobial protection to help in the prevention and management of wound infection.

 VERSAJET^◊ is an advanced hydrosurgery powered surgical instrument for the debridement of traumatic/acute/chronic wounds and burns. The system enables surgeons to simultaneously hold, cut and remove damaged tissue and contaminants precisely - without the collateral damage associated with current surgical modalities such as the scalpel and pulsed lavage. Debridement is achieved in a single step, with a single instrument, and single-handedly, while sparing healthy tissue.

Patented hydrosurgery technology provides benefits to the clinician, patient and healthcare system. Recent research(1) by Dr. Mark Granick of UMDNJ (USA) has shown improvement in clinical outcomes and reduced cost when VERSAJET^◊ is chosen as the product of choice for complex surgical debridement.

The system is currently available in all major markets such as USA, UK, Germany, Italy and Canada.

⁽¹⁾ Clinical and Economic Impact of Hydrosurgical Debridement on Chronic Wounds., Granick et al., Wounds.,  2006;18(2):35-39.

PROGUIDE^◊ is an innovation in compression bandaging for venous leg ulcers¹ ². It has been designed and developed with clinicians to improve on current compression bandage treatments.

Sustained compression bandaging is recognised as the most effective way to treat venous leg ulcers. Achieving the effective level of compression directly influences healing rates. Too little compression does not achieve optimum results, while too much compression can cause tissue damage and necrosis.

PROGUIDE^◊ with revolutionary VARISTRETCH^◊ technology

• Makes it easier to achieve the effective level of compression
• Reduces the risk of over compression

PROGUIDE^◊ offers the following additional benefits:

• Sustained compression for up to 7 days
• Clinically proven to be effective
• Innovative layer system

PROGUIDE^◊ provides sustained graduated compression for up to 7 days minimising dressing changes and could lower the cost of treating your patient's leg ulcer.

PROGUIDE^◊ does not contain the known sensitisers, latex, thiurams or colophony in the formulation.

¹ Cullum N et al. The Cochrane Library 2002;2
² Stacey et al. EWMA 2002;2(1):9-13

Sustained compression provides the mainstay of treatment in venous leg ulcers, and addresses the underlying causes of the problem.

Sustained compression is highly efficacious in the long-term treatment of venous leg ulcers as it not only provides the wound with a protective dressing, but also helps to control exudate.

Compression therapy is provided by many different types of bandages. However sustained compression is provided by multi-layer elastic or inelastic bandage systems. There is considerable evidence to show that sustained high compression therapy (multi-layered, high pressure compression) PROFORE^◊, a multilayer compression bandaging system improves ulcer healing and provides improved quality of life and cost benefits². PROGUIDE^◊ is proven to provide sustained compression for up to 7 days. This is much longer than many traditional bandages which have to be changed on a daily basis.

^◊Trademark of Smith & Nephew
² Stacey et al. EWMA 2002;2(1):9-13