Derma-Stent Novel Abscess Packing Device

Derma-Stent Novel Abscess Packing Device (Pilot Study)

In this research study, a device called the Derma-Stent will be tested. The sponsor of the study, Mar-Med Company, will supply the device. This device is used to drain a cutaneous abscess, which is a skin infection that results in buildup of pus under the skin. Currently, the normal treatment for this abscess is to cut and drain and the wound, and later pack the wound with gauze. Packing is done to prevent the pus to accumulate again. But regular gauze is difficult for patient to remove themselves, so another visit to the doctor is usually necessary. The Derma-Stent device will be tested to see how easily patients can remove this by themselves and if it is less painful and more effective than normal gauze packing.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Cutaneous Abscess
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Derma-Stent; Device: Usual care, cotton gauze packing

Detailed Description

Background:

Cutaneous abscess is an infectious condition that affects millions of people each year, and the incidence is on the rise. Between 1993 and 2005, the annual number of emergency department (ED) visits for skin and soft tissue infections increased from 1.2 to 3.4 million, and this largely attributed to a rise in the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in the community.

The standard treatment for cutaneous abscess is incision and drainage at bedside in the ED. Following this procedure, many clinicians insert a strip of gauze, known as packing, to maintain the open surgical incision, enhance drainage, and prevent re-accumulation of the abscess. If the abscess is packed, patients typically have to return in 2-3 days for a repeat visit to have the packing removed. The present standard of care, gauze packing, is difficult for patients to remove alone, as the packing itself becomes impregnated with pus and blood. Additionally, the packing procedure can be painful, despite the use of local anesthetics.

A newer approach advocates for the use of a silicon string, known as a PDS loop for purposes of packing and drainage. While this approach can reduce pain, and is equally effective in terms of healing time, and treatment failure, the PDS, or Vessiloop is not readily available in emergency departments and outpatient clinics, as it is a specialized sterile surgical device used in vascular procedures. Furthermore, this procedure does not facilitate irrigation of the abscess cavity, since a much smaller incision is made. Finally, the PDS loop requires a surgical knot which may come loose.

Objective:

To investigate the use of a novel silicon packing device, the Derma-Stent™. The novel device will facilitate self removal by patients, as it has a narrower profile, and, as a nonabsorbent material, will not become saturated with bodily fluids. Although it will not absorb body fluids, it is believed that the Derma-stent will achieve the objective of wound healing by maintaining the opening of the surgical incision.

Hypothesis:

The acceptability of self removal will be significantly higher for the novel device.

Study Protocol:

ED Visit

1. Abscess measured by ultrasound. Study will be performed by a trained research assistant, and will be verified by a physician certified to interpret soft tissue sonographic images.
2. Abscess photographed, with measurement tape, to allow for objective measurement of skin induration and erythema.
3. Abscess will be incised and drained, utilizing standard of care technique, with local anesthetic
4. Packing performed according to randomization group.
5. Sterile dressing applied.
6. Subject completes assessment form - pain scale.
7. Practitioner fills out assessment form - ease of use.

Follow up visit 1 - 3-5 days

1. Removal of packing. Subjects will be asked to remove packing on their own under supervision of the physician. Physician will remove the packing if they not able to.
2. Measurement of abscess diameter and volume, utilizing measuring tape, photograph, and point of care ultrasound.
3. Practitioner and subject assessment form as above, but adding ease of procedure, and likelihood that subject would have removed packing at home.

Follow up visit 2 - 24-32 days

1. Assessment of residual erythema and fluid collection by measurement, photograph, and US
2. Practitioner and subject assessment including global satisfaction, and satisfaction with cosmetic result.

Adverse Effects:

If physician is impressed that the wound is not appropriately at either f/u visit, antibiotics may be prescribed, and repacking may be performed, utilizing gauze packing strip. Use of antibiotics for abscess is controversial and most physicians prescribe these on a case by case basis. Antibiotics will be prescribed at the discretion of the physician and not related to the study protocol.

Population:

Convenience sample of adult patients presenting with uncomplicated cutaneous abscess amenable to bedside drainage to either DRH or SGH ED.

Sample size calculation:

As this is a hypothesis generating study, and the effect size is unknown, formal sample size calculation was not performed. 60 patients was chosen as the sample size.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 60
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Michigan
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201
      • Recruiting
      • Wayne State University
      • Contact: Aaron Brody, MD, MPH; Phone Number: 313-577-1216; Email: abrody@med.wayne.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 86 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ED patient > 18, < 90.
2. Abscess total dimensions (z+y+z) by ultrasound greater or equal to 5 cm.
3. Consent to participate in research protocol.
4. Assessment by attending physician that the abscess will require packing.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients requiring admission for skin and soft tissue infection.
2. Abscess drainage requiring procedural sedation.
3. Abscesses requiring incision and drainage in the operating room.
4. Inability to comprehend consent and follow up instructions.
5. Prisoners.
6. Pregnant women.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Derma-Stent; The novel silicon packing device made of a nonabsorbent material to pack a drained abscess for healing.	Device: Derma-Stent; The novel device will facilitate self removal by patients, as it has a narrower profile, and, as a nonabsorbent material, will not become saturated with bodily fluids. Although it will not absorb body fluids
Active Comparator: Usual Care, cotton gauze packing; Standard of care to pack a drained abscess for healing.	Device: Usual care, cotton gauze packing; Standard gauze packing used to pack a drained abscess.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Likelihood of self removal	Likelihood of self removal, as measured on a 1-10 Likert scale.	3-5 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical Failure Rate	Defined by presence of: fever, increase in maximal diameter of erythema, worsening of wound swelling and tenderness.	32 days after baseline
Recurrence Rate of Abscess	Recurrence rate of abscess at initial (3-5 day) and one month follow up.	3-5 day and one month follow-up
Cosmetic Result	Cosmetic result at both f/u visits, as measured subjectively by participants, utilizing a 1-10 Likert scale.	3-5 day and one month
Pain during procedure and packing removal	Pain during procedure and packing removal, measured by a 1-10 visual acuity scale.	baseline and 3-5 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aaron Brody, MD, MPH
• Collaborators: Mar-Med
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aaron Brody, MD, MPH, Wayne State University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Tsoraides SS, Pearl RH, Stanfill AB, Wallace LJ, Vegunta RK. Incision and loop drainage: a minimally invasive technique for subcutaneous abscess management in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2010 Mar;45(3):606-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.06.013.
• Singer AJ, Talan DA. Management of skin abscesses in the era of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. N Engl J Med. 2014 Mar 13;370(11):1039-47. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1212788. No abstract available.
• Ladd AP, Levy MS, Quilty J. Minimally invasive technique in treatment of complex, subcutaneous abscesses in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2010 Jul;45(7):1562-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2010.03.025.
• Pallin DJ, Egan DJ, Pelletier AJ, Espinola JA, Hooper DC, Camargo CA Jr. Increased US emergency department visits for skin and soft tissue infections, and changes in antibiotic choices, during the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Ann Emerg Med. 2008 Mar;51(3):291-8. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.12.004. Epub 2008 Jan 28.
• Qualls ML, Mooney MM, Camargo CA Jr, Zucconi T, Hooper DC, Pallin DJ. Emergency department visit rates for abscess versus other skin infections during the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 1997-2007. Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Jul;55(1):103-5. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis342. Epub 2012 Mar 28.
• Gaszynski R, Punch G, Verschuer K. Loop and drain technique for subcutaneous abscess: a safe minimally invasive procedure in an adult population. ANZ J Surg. 2018 Jan;88(1-2):87-90. doi: 10.1111/ans.13709. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 27, 2017
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): November 30, 2017
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 15, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): May 31, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 8, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 6, 2017
• Last Verified: June 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Drainage Catheter
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Inflammation; Suppuration; Abscess
• Other Study ID Numbers: 091016M1F

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No