Managing wound exudate

Managing wound exudate presents significant challenges in clinical practice, despite successful innovation, research and an improved understanding of wound management.

Oedematous (‘leaky’) legs, pressure ulcers and arterial ulcers in particular produce high levels of wound exudate and impact on patients’ quality of life.¹ In most clinical settings, wound exudate requires more dressing changes, increased nursing visits and leads to patient discomfort. In some cases, managing wound exudate requires the prescription of dressings considered expensive.
Yet wound exudate is an essential element of the wound healing process.^2,3 Principles of Best Practice advises that wound exudate, is an essential element of the wound healing process as it: