Description
ALLEVYN Life dressing is a multi-layered design incorporating hydrocellular foam, hyper-absorber lock away core and masking layer which has been designed for people and their everyday life through:
- Unique quadrilobe shape with a wide border designed to fit the contours of the human body more securely1-2 and allows patients to shower1-3
- The protective masking layer minimises the visual impact of strikethrough4(in-vitro), providing the patient with confidence that their dressing may not attract the negative attention of others
- Excellent fluid locking under pressure5 (in-vitro)
- Provides the patient with peace of mind leakage prevention5(in-vitro)
- Common wound odour absorption when tested (in-vitro) on representative compounds6
- ALLEVYN Life’s multi-layered design provides cushioning and helps to spread pressure7 (in-vitro)
- Silicone wound contact layer offers minimal pain and discomfort on removal8 while allowing the dressing to be repositoned9
- Change indicator optimises dressing change frequency10 and minimises wastage
We conducted over 50 hours of in-depth interviews and observational sessions with patients and involved over 850 clinicians from around the world.
From this research we now know that complete wound care means far more than just physical healing, particularly to patients living with their wounds 24/7:
- Leakage, visible strikethrough and odour can be embarrassing and stigmatising 1,2
- Poor cushioning from knocks and bumps can cause fear and pain 1,2
- Dressings that don’t stay in place and fall off are highly frustrating 1,2
- Frequent dressing changes and slow wound healing cause anxiety 1,2
This inspired the development of ALLEVYN Life which is a multi-layered dressing incorporating hydrocellular foam, hyper-absorber lock away core and masking layer designed specifically for people and their everyday life.
Mode of Action
Discretion Layer for Patient Confidence
The masking layer minimises the visual impact of strikethrough3, providing the patient with confidence that their dressing may not attract the negative attention of others.
The masking layer acts as a change indicator which optimises dressing change frequency4 and minimises wastage.
How does ALLEVYN Life's Performance Compare?
*Tested on MepilexTM Border
Lock-away Layer Providing Patient Peace of Mind
In addition to its hydrocellular foam layer, ALLEVYN Life has a hyper-absorber lock away core providing excellent fluid locking under pressure5(in-vitro), absorbs common wound odours when tested (in-vitro) on representative compounds6 and provides the patient with peace of mind leakage prevention5, (in-vitro).
How does ALLEVYN Life's Performance Compare?
*Tested on Mepilex Border
Cushioning Layer for Maximum Protection
ALLEVYN Life’s multi-layered design (hydrocellular foam, hyper-absorber lock away core and masking layer) provides cushioning and helps to spread pressure7 (in-vitro) so the patients can feel comforted that they are cushioned against everyday trauma.8
How does ALLEVYN Life's Performance Compare?
*Tested on Mepilex Border
Directions:
ALLEVYN Life dressings provide wound management by secondary intention for:
- Shallow, granulating wounds
- Chronic and acute exudative wounds
- Full and partial thickness wounds such as pressure ulcers, leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers
- Malignant wounds
- Surgical wounds
- First and second degree burns
- Donor sites
- Skin tears
- Fungating ulcers
- ALLEVYN Life may be used on infected wounds. Where the product is used on infected wounds, the wounds should be treated as per local clinical protocol.
Application
To apply ALLEVYN Life follow the steps below:
- Cleanse the wound in accordance with local clinical protocol.
- Select an appropriate dressing size.
- Prepare and clean the skin surrounding the wound area and remove excess moisture. Any excess hair should be clipped to ensure close approximation to the wound.
- Using a clean technique remove one of the protector films from ALLEVYN Life and anchor the adhesive side of the dressing to the skin. Smooth the dressing over the wound ensuring there are no creases. When positioning ALLEVYN Life Sacrum dressings, place the narrow end of the dressing a minimum of 2cm (3/4in.) above the anal sphincter, then smooth the dressing over the sacrum.
- Remove the remaining protector film and smooth the dressing over the remainder of the wound without stretching, ensuring no creases. Only the pad area of the dressing must be adhered across the entire surface of the wound.
- ALLEVYN Life can be used to dress awkward areas such as elbows; the dressing corner lobes can be overlapped when positioning the dressing, ensuring no creasing or stretching occurs.
Application: Flat
Application: Joint
Application: Heel
Application: Sacrum
When to Change
Dressings can be left in place undisturbed for up to 7 days, except the sacral area where dressings can be left in place for up to 5 days, depending on the condition of the wound and the surrounding skin, or until exudate covers more than 50% of the absorbent pad outside of the central screen.
The above is guidance and the decision of when to change should be dependent upon clinical assessment and local protocols should also be taken into consideration.
If dressings are applied to the sacral area, due to the increased potential for contamination and infection in this area, increased monitoring of dressing adherence may be required as per local clinical protocols.
Dressing Removal
To remove ALLEVYN Life, lift the edge of the dressing and slowly peel back until completely removed from the wound. ALLEVYN Life Sacrum should be removed from the top edge down towards the anus to minimise the potential for faecal contamination.
Removal: Flat
Removal: Joint
Removal: Heel
Removal: Sacrum
