From the Guidelines
Ultramist is a hydrogel wound therapy system that delivers a fine mist of saline or antimicrobial solution to wound beds to promote healing, and it should be considered as part of a comprehensive wound care plan for chronic, non-healing wounds. The system uses ultrasonic energy to convert liquid into a dense, low-velocity mist that penetrates wound surfaces without causing trauma or pain. According to the most recent evidence 1, advanced wound therapy, such as Ultramist, can play a crucial role in the treatment of chronic wounds that fail to show a reduction of 50% or more after 4 weeks of appropriate wound management. The treatment typically involves 3-7 minute sessions performed 2-3 times weekly by healthcare professionals in clinical settings. The mist hydrates the wound bed, assists with non-traumatic debridement by loosening necrotic tissue and biofilm, reduces bacterial load, and creates an optimal moist healing environment. This therapy is particularly valuable for wounds that are painful to touch or have irregular surfaces that are difficult to clean with traditional methods. Some key principles of wound care include:
- Offloading of plantar ulcerations
- Debridement of necrotic, nonviable tissue
- Revascularization of ischemic wounds when necessary
- Management of infection: soft tissue or bone
- Use of physiologic, topical dressings Ultramist works by supporting the body's natural healing process through proper wound bed preparation while minimizing patient discomfort during treatment. As noted in 1, the initial treatment and evaluation of ulcerations should include the five basic principles of ulcer treatment, and advanced wound therapy can be considered if a wound fails to show significant improvement after 4 weeks of appropriate management. It is essential to use Ultramist as part of a comprehensive wound care plan that includes appropriate dressings, infection control, and addressing underlying causes of poor wound healing, as recommended in 1.
From the Research
Ultramist in Wound Therapy
- Ultramist, also known as hydrogel mist, is used in wound therapy to promote wound healing by creating a moist environment [ 2 ].
- The use of ultrasonic mist debridement, which includes Ultramist, has been studied for its effectiveness in removing devitalized tissue from the wound bed and promoting wound healing [ 2 ].
- Although there is insufficient evidence to determine whether ultrasonic mist therapy effectively debrides necrotic tissue in chronic wound beds, limited evidence suggests that noncontact, low-hertz frequency ultrasonic mist therapy promotes wound healing when used in conjunction with standard wound therapy [ 2 ].
Benefits of Moist Wound Environment
- A moist wound environment, which can be created using Ultramist, has several benefits, including facilitating autolytic debridement, reducing pain, reducing scarring, and activating collagen synthesis [ 3 ].
- Moist wound dressings, including hydrogels like Ultramist, can be used to create and maintain a moist environment for healing [ 3 ].
- An optimal wound dressing, such as Ultramist, should provide a moist environment, have an optimal water vapor transmission rate, and be easy to apply and remove [ 3 ].
Comparison with Other Wound Therapies
- Ultramist can be compared to other wound therapies, such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), which has been shown to be effective in promoting wound healing [ 4 ].
- NPWT has been used in conjunction with Ultramist to promote wound healing and prepare the wound bed for surgical procedures [ 4 ].
- The use of Ultramist and other moist wound dressings can reduce the need for more invasive techniques, such as NPWT, and promote wound healing in a more manageable and less painful way [ 5 ].