Drawtex (SteadMed) is a new find as a hydroconductive debridement agent. I was able to see an average reduction in slough of up to 75% in the eight patients I have tried it on so far. The assumed mode of action is through the dressings ability to forcefully remove drainage (up to 150cc/hr) and content from the wound into the dressing. The force of the fluid transferred into the hydroconductive dressing is able to cleave the denuded collagen that bonds the necrotic tissue from the healthy tissue. The advantage of hydroconductive debridement is that it is a top down debridement tool that can debride over a large surface area (versus the peripherial wound area such as side down debridement agents i.e. Santyl Collagenase).
Indications:
Drawtex works well with wounds with moderate to large drainage, Reoccurring slough, Adherent slough, Consolidated slough with is difficult to remove with curettage and as an alternative for patients who have pain with sharps debridement.
Author notes:
Drawtex is also useful for controlling Biofilm as noted in the (Randy Wilcott Poster which won first place at the SAWC Spring, 2011 Conference).
The dressing will not degrade in the wound and will continue to pull fluid from high draining cavities, so it is very useful with deep narrow or wide tunnels (Were alginates fail).
