Membrana de biopolímero de cana-de-açúcar aplicada em curativos para o tratamento de úlceras varicosas dos membros inferiores

CONTEXT: A membrane produced from the sugarcane biopolymer has been conducted at the Sugarcane Experimental Station of the Rural Federal University of Pernambuco in Carpina. This membrane has been used since 2001 by the Experimental Surgery Center of Health Sciences of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) on several experimental works including its successful use on the treatment of skin wounds in dogs. Chronic venous disease (CVD) of the lower limbs (LL) has a high prevalence and its most severe clinical manifestation is the varicose ulcer (VU). Various types of materials are used on the dressings for treating these wounds.Nevertheless there is no standardization regarding the material used.OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the use of sugarcane membrane on dressings for the treatment of lower limb varicose ulcers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients were seen at the clinics of Angiology and Vascular Surgery of ClinicasHospital and Salgado Polyclinic in Caruaru city. Patients with CVD and UV of the lower limbs, were distributed randomly into two groups and underwent curatives: the control group, using triglyceride oil (11 patients) and the experimental one getting sugarcane membranes(14 patients). Patients were followed for a period of 120 days.RESULTS: There was a reduction in the wounded area for both groups. There were no clinical signs of infectionsor rejections of the productfor both control and experimental groups. All patients on both groups showed decreased pain and possible discontinuation of the use of painkillers. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, Sugarcane membrane biopolymer may optionally be used for dressings on the treatment of varicose ulcers of the lower limbs.