Fungating Wound Wound Type Aims Dressings Other Considerations features (Collier Charcoal / odour 2000) Main symptoms include: absorbent dressing Other Altered body image methods of odour control Manage exudate Excessive exudate Malodour include the use of Bleeding* deodorising products as Pain Itching used in stoma care The overall aim is to *Dressings should be low adherent to minimise improve the patient’s the risk of trauma induced bleeding. The use of Reduce odour quality of life and haemostatic Alginates may be of use to control manage symptoms of minor bleeds. Useful the wound. Description Malignant combinations Dressings should be wounds are caused by include low comfortable and malignant adherent acceptable to the Linked information: infiltration of the skin by a dressing and patient. It is important Fungating wound guideline primary tumour or a secondary to ensure that a holistic metastasis to the skin. absorbent patient assessment These lesions can grow dressing or includes psychological rapidly, and commonly alginate / assessment of the present with both hydrofibre and impact of the wound for ulcerative and fungating foam dressing the patient.
Fungating Wound Wound Type Aims Dressings Other Considerations Description Malignant wounds are caused by malignant infiltration of the skin by a primary tumour or a metastasis to the skin. These lesions can grow rapidly, and commonly present with both ulcerative and fungating features (Collier 2000) Manage exudate Reduce odour Useful combinations include low adherent dressing and secondary absorbent dressing or alginate / hydrofibre and foam dressing Charcoal / odour absorbent dressing Other methods of odour control include the use of deodorising products as used in stoma care The overall aim is to improve the patient’s quality of life and manage symptoms of the wound. Dressings should be comfortable and acceptable to the patient. It is important to ensure that a holistic patient assessment includes psychological assessment of the impact of the wound for the patient. Main symptoms include: Altered body image Excessive exudate Malodour Bleeding* Pain Itching *Dressings should be low adherent to minimise the risk of trauma induced bleeding. The use of haemostatic Alginates may be of use to control minor bleeds. Linked information: Fungating wound guideline