Advanced post-operative dressing is now used
to prevent post-operative infections in patients with congenital
heart conditions from birth through adulthood.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 20,
2022 /CNW/ - Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company"
or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV) (OTCQX: CVALF), an advanced medical
technologies company, is pleased to announce that SurgiClear, the
only dual antimicrobial postoperative dressing, is now part of the
surgical site infection ("SSI") prevention bundle used by Texas
Children's Hospital Heart Unit after the dressing successfully
eliminated surgical site infections.
"To see SurgiClear in the hands of the top pediatric cardiac
surgery teams and making a difference in the lives of children and
their parents, is exactly what drives innovation here at Covalon,"
says Brian Pedlar, CEO of Covalon.
"We designed SurgiClear to outperform other post-operative wound
care dressings, with the critical goal being to prevent
post-operative complications from jeopardizing the success of
life-saving procedures."
As part of a quality improvement project, the Heart Unit at
Texas Children's Hospital ran a trial to strengthen post operative
wound care and infection prevention practices by trialing Covalon's
SurgiClear product. During the course of the one-year trial,
infection rates steadily declined and outcomes for patients
improved. The trial involved the use of SurgiClear post-operatively
on a total of 600 patients ranging in age from 2 months to 66 years
that had congenital heart surgery.1
Key highlights include:
- Infection rates steadily declined over the course of the
project, reaching 0 infections after 1 year
- The transparency of SurgiClear reduced the number of dressing
changes, in turn reducing exposure and manipulation of the healing
wound
- Application of SurgiClear was successful across a wide range of
age groups and incision types
- There have been no adverse events or cases of compromised skin
integrity
- The low-profile transparent design of the SurgiClear dressing
was well received by patients' parents and caregivers, empowering
them to monitor for signs of complications
- Use of SurgiClear conserved nursing time
"Parents of our pediatric heart surgery patients are often
concerned and worried about their child's upcoming surgery," said
Sophia C. Bailey, MSN, BSN, RN,
CNOR, of Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. "However, surgery is only one
critical element of the post-operative journey. Healing and
prevention of surgical site infection are paramount for patient
outcomes. Since we began using SurgiClear, we have had excellent
results maintaining the immediate perimeter of our incisions. This
initiative has improved healing and prevention of wound
contamination and infection, resulting in much-needed peace of mind
for both parents and clinicians."
Since the completion of the trial, the product has been used as
a first-line wound dressing on all patients over two months of age
being treated by the Congenital Heart Surgery Service at Texas
Children's. The Texas Children's Heart Center and the Congenital
Heart Surgery Service is a global leader and reports outcomes among
the best in the nation for more than 800 procedures performed
annually on children and adults.2
Researchers estimate that in the
United States, approximately 55% of SSIs are
preventable3 and although there are many potential
sources of infection during a patient's perioperative experience,
improving postoperative wound care protocol with an advanced
technology benefits both patients and hospital resources. Children
with SSI after cardiothoracic surgery ("CTS") have an associated
increase in hospital costs of US$136,950 per case and hospital length of stay
of 9.5 days per case. The economic burden posed by SSI stresses the
importance of infection control surveillance, exhaustive
preventative measures, and identification of modifiable risk
factors.4
"While healthcare practices and protocols will differ from
institution to institution, the use of a proven technology to
combat infections is one of the best ways any hospital or care team
can strengthen their infection prevention program," said Pedlar.
"Advanced technology like SurgiClear to help level the playing
field, delivering top infection prevention outcomes to hospitals
across the country."
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1.
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Bailey SC. Using a
Transparent Antimicrobial Soft Silicone Dressing to Prevent
Surgical Site Infections After Congenital Heart Surgery. AORN
Journal. 2022 Apr;115(4):353-358.
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2.
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Departments and
services. Congenital heart surgery. Texas Children's Hospital
https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/congenital-heart-surgery.
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3.
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Umscheid CA, Mitchell
MD, Doshi JA, Agarwal R, Williams K, Brennan PJ. Estimating the
proportion of healthcare-associated infections that are reasonably
preventable and the related mortality and costs. Infection Control
& Hospital Epidemiology. 2011;32(2):101-114.
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4.
|
Sochet AA, Cartron AM,
Nyhan A, Spaeder MC, Song X, Brown AT, Klugman D. Surgical Site
Infection After Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery: Impact on
Hospital Cost and Length of Stay. World Journal for Pediatric
and Congenital Heart Surgery. 2017 Jan;8(1):7-12.
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About Covalon
Covalon Technologies Ltd. is a researcher, developer,
manufacturer, and marketer of patent-protected medical products
that improve patient outcomes and save lives in the areas of
advanced wound care, infection management and surgical procedures.
Covalon leverages its patented medical technology platforms and
expertise in two ways: (i) by developing products that are sold
under Covalon's name; and (ii) by developing and commercializing
medical products for other medical companies under development and
license contracts. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture
Exchange, having the symbol COV and trades on the OTQX Market under
the symbol CVALF. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at
www.covalon.com
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SOURCE Covalon Technologies Ltd.