Exudate capacity of modern wound dressings during compression therapy for chronic venous leg ulcers

Major components in the conservative treatment of patients with chronic venous leg ulcers are compression therapy and modern wound dressings. Both therapies are used simultaneously. Consequently it is important to know the exudate capacity of modern wound dressings changes during compression therapy. In the first part of our study we analyzed the maximum exudate capacity of 15 modern wound dressings. In the second part we showed that under compression stockings of class 2, a reduction of 44.08% and under compression stockings of class 3, a reduction of 50.49% occurred. In the third part we pointed out that all the investigated wound dressings released absorbed fluid when under compression. Again the effect was higher when using compression class 3 with 40.78% compared to compression class 2 with 40.50%. Our results show for the first time the broad variability of exudate capacity of modern wound dressings. Our results show that compression therapy has a considerable effect on the ability of modern wound dressings to absorb and retain exudate and suggests that more frequent changes may be required.