A comparison of the in vitro moisture vapour transmission rate and in vivo fluid-handling capacity of six adhesive foam dressings to a newly reformulated adhesive foam dressing

This study compared moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) and wear time or fluid-handling capacities of six adhesive foam dressings to a reformulated control dressing. Standardised in vitro MVTR methodology and a previously published in vivo artificial wound model (AWM) were used. Mean inverted MVTR for the reformulated dressing was 12 750 g/m(2)/24 hours and was significantly higher than four of the six comparator dressings (P < 00001), which ranged from 830 to 11 360 g/m(2)/24 hours. Mean upright MVTR for the reformulated dressing was 980 g/m(2)/24 hours and was significantly different than all of the comparator dressings (P < 00001), which ranged from 80 to 1620 g/m(2)/24 hours (three higher/three lower). The reformulated dressing median wear time ranged from 61 to >70 days, compared with 10 to 35 days for the comparator dressings (P = 00012 to P < 00001). The median fluid volume handled ranged from 780 to >87 ml compared with 130 to 445 ml for the comparator dressings (P = 00007 to P < 0001). Interestingly, inverted MVTR did not correspond well to the AWM. These results suggest that marked differences exist between the dressings in terms of both MVTR and wear time or fluid-handling capacity. Furthermore, high inverted MVTR does not necessarily predict longer wear time or fluid-handling capacities of absorbent dressings.