Palliative Wound Care
Definition: Palliative wound care, as part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach, focuses on managing symptoms and maintaining comfort and dignity for patients with malignant or chronic wounds, without prioritizing healing.
Palliative wound care is a holistic, patient- and family-centered approach that involves interdisciplinary care and aims to treat wounds that may or may not heal. In cases of malignant cutaneous wounds (MCWs), the goal of palliative wound care is to alleviate symptoms, reduce pain, and maintain patient comfort and dignity, as healing is not always possible. MCWs cause high levels of wound exudate, bleeding, malodour, severe pain, and social isolation for patients.
Achieving "wound balance" as the central element of patient-centered MCW management is essential to maintaining patient comfort and dignity. Furthermore, wound topography should be considered when selecting the type of wound dressing (silicone-edged self-adhesive or non-adhesive) for MCWs. Silicone superabsorbent polymer (SAP) dressings have shown promising results in managing high-exudate wounds, taking into account patient needs and improving outcomes for patients with MCWs. The application of silicone SAP dressings is recommended in palliative wound care, as they can significantly enhance the quality of life and wound management of patients with MCWs, even when healing is not the primary goal.
For further benefits of silicone SAP dressings in palliative wound care, read the recently published study. Find the article here: Improving management of malignant cutaneous wounds: Case Study | Link For Wound Healing
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Last edited: October 17, 2024