April, 2005

Dear Readers,

In this first special section on palliative wound care, Section Editor Dr. Oscar M. Alvarez has assembled a series of articles focusing on prevalence of chronic wounds in the frail patient and the challenges of balancing the treatment options with the overall priorities of the patient and family. In his commentary, Dr. Alvarez discusses palliative care goals and concepts and debunks the notion that these are associated with “giving up.”
In the Evidence Corner, Dr. Laura Bolton reviews 2 recent articles addressing the effectiveness of negative pressure wou

P ressure ulcers occur in every setting where healthcare is delivered, but little is known about the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers in terminally ill persons who receive home hospice care. The term “incidence” refers to all new cases of an index problem for the period of interest, and “prevalence” refers to all occurrences of a problem for a period of interest, including both preexisting and new cases. It is difficult to draw conclusions about pressure ulcer incidence from published reports because of variations in study methodology, characteristics of the healthcare sett

F ungating tumors, pressure ulcers, and other chronic wounds are frequently the source of offensive odors that distress patients, family, and healthcare professionals. These odors often limit the patients’ contact with others and have a negative psychological impact on all concerned. The social embarrassment caused by a malodorous wound heightens the misery of advanced and uncontrolled disease, deepening the person’s sense of helplessness, worthlessness, and social isolation at the time when support of family and friends is crucial.1 Smell carries a social stigma and may cause

I t is expected that by 2030, 20% of the American population will be 65 years of age and older, and the number of Americans dying in nursing homes will likely increase from the current 20%.1 In addition, by 2030, it is estimated that over 157 million Americans will suffer from chronic illnesses.2 With this huge demographic shift, it is paramount that clinicians begin to address the needs of adult immobilized and frail patients for whom cure (ie, complete wound healing) may not be the ultimate goal of therapy.
The authors practice at an outpatient, hospital-based wound

T o develop and use wound care products effectively, manufacturers and clinicians must keep abreast of the activities of leading industrial suppliers and practitioners. Over the years, the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) has been a magnet for the movers and shakers of the wound care industry. The educational and product information emphasized at this conference provides a major resource tool in understanding the state of the wound care market.
The poster exhibit at the SAWC is an important measure of where industry and key practitioners are concentrating their efforts. A review and

Mölnlycke Signs New 3-year Technology Contract

Mölnlycke Health Care (Newtown, Pa) has signed a new technology contract with Novation (Irving, Tex), the supply company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), for Mölnlycke’s Safetac® soft silicone technology products.
The contract began April 1, 2005 and ends March 31, 2008. The agreement includes all of the Tendra® products featuring Safetac soft silicone technology and has a potential value to Mölnlycke Health Care of about $5 million over the next 3 years.
Mölnlycke Health Care has hundreds of independ