Objective: To study the effect of sodium hyaluronate hydrogel in treating residual cavity on body surface after abscess drainage so as to provide new method to speed up the healing of residual cavity after body surface abscess drainage and reduce the frequency of dressing change and clinic nursing workload.
Methods: From June 2007 to March 2008, 60 outpatients with body surface abscess drainage were randomly divided into hydrogel group (group A, 30 cases) and the control group (group B, 30 cases). In group A, there were 16 males and 14 females aged (49.5 +/- 6.1) years, the disease course was (3.8 +/- 0.6) days, and the volume of residual cavity was (4.19 +/- 1.31) mL. In group B, there were 18 males and 12 females aged (50.2 +/- 7.6) years, the disease course was (4.3 +/- 0.5) days, and the volume of residual cavity was (4.04 +/- 1.22) mL. There was no significant difference between two groups in gender, age, disease course and volume of residual cavity (P > 0.05). Residual cavity was smeared with 1 mL/cm2 sodium hyaluronate hydrogel in group A and drained by saline gauze in group B, the dressing was changed every two to three days. Residual cavity volume was recorded every four days, and the residual cavity volume, the frequency of out-patient dressing and the healing time residual of cavity were compared.
Results: The volume of residual cavity was (3.11 +/- 1.12), (1.75 +/- 0.95) and (0.55 +/- 0.56) mL in group A, and was (3.39 +/- 1.12), (2.64 +/- 0.99) and (1.81 +/- 0.81) mL in group B at 4, 8 and 12 days after treatment respectively, showing no significant differences at 4 days (P > 0. 05), but significant difference at 8 and 12 days (P < 0.01). Residual cavity healing time was (12.70 +/- 2.78) days in group A and (20.27 +/- 3.89) days in group B, and the frequency of dressing change was 5.53 +/- 1.33 in group A and 9.13 +/- 1.81 in group B, indicating significant differences between two groups (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Sodium hyaluronate hydrogel can promote residual cavity healing, reduce the frequency of dressing change of out-patient and decrease the clinic nursing care workload.