AWBAT: early clinical experience

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the early clinical experience with AWBAT.

Methods: Burn patients requiring (1) donor sites or (2) treatment of a superficial burn wound injury were treated. A total of 45 patients with 69 distinct wounds were included. AWBAT-D was evaluated in donor sites and AWBAT-S was evaluated in superficial partial-thickness burns. Days to healing, pain, hematoma/seroma formation, and infection were noted. Ease of application, adherence, transparency, and physical adaptability details were collected.

Results: Average period to healing of donor sites treated with AWBAT-D (n=22 patients with n=26 wounds) was 11.2 days, sigma =1.95, with a range of 8-15 days and a median of 11 days. Pain rating at 24 hours was 1.2, sigma =0.43 (n=18) and at 48 hours mean was 1.2, sigma =0.46 (n=15). Average period to healing of superficial burns treated with AWBAT-S (n=15 patients with n=18 wounds) was 8.1 days, sigma =2.48, with a range of 5-13 days and a median of 7 days. Pain rating at 24 hours was 1.5, sigma =0.85 (n=10) and at 48 hours mean was 1.75, sigma =0.89 (n=8). There was zero incidence of hematoma/seroma. No infections were seen. Results indicate that AWBAT was easily applied with good initial adherence. It was noted to be transparent, conformant, and pliable.

Discussion: Early experience demonstrates that AWBAT performs well on donor sites and superficial partial-thickness burns and delivers the desired attributes of a temporary skin substitute including good adherence, infection control, transparency, adapatability, and pain control.

Figure 1

(a) Harvested donor site, (b) postoperative day 3, AWBAT-D well adhered. Staples have been removed. (c) Petrolatum-based product was applied to loosen AWBAT-D on day 10, and (d) day 13 result. Used with permission from Aubrey, Inc.

Figure 2

(a) Immediately following application of AWBAT-S to a superficial partial-thickness burn. Note fluid passing through pores. (b) Product is well adhered at day 1, (C) day 3, no fluid accumulation under dressing, (D) showing signs of healing at day 8, (e) day 13, patient returned to clinic, healed. Used with permission from Aubrey, Inc.