| Q |
: |
"I was bitten by a spider 2 months ago. The wound did not heal and I eventually came upon Cerdak. On the second day of use, the wound became larger and I immediately took the Cerdak bag off, scared that the wound is just getting worse, eating away normal skin. What happened and what should I do?" |
| A |
: |
Venomous bites create a lot of very damaged tissue. As part of the healing process the tissues that are unlikely to survive or that have already died will be broken down and removed by the body itself. One should therefore continue with the Cerdak. The skin will start healing within a few days. Also be aware that this type of injury will take longer to heal than other more ordinary types of injury because of the damage caused by the venom. |
| |
| Q |
: |
"How do I clean the wound when I change the Cerdak sachets?" |
| A |
: |
It is not necessary to clean the wound during changes as the action of Cerdak does the cleaning itself. The only time we recommend rinsing the surface of a wound during the change of bags is when very thick pus is present. Very thick pus can not be absorbed by the ceramic and will therefore slow the action down or even stop it to some degree. |
| |
| Q |
: |
"I read on the package insert that the Cerdak device should be changed when nearly saturated. What does that mean and how do I know how often I should change the bag on my wound?" |
| A |
: |
When the outside surface of the device (the part seen whilst the Cerdak is in place on the wound) is discoloured in more than half of the surface, the ceramic particles are nearly saturated. This is a good time to change. In wounds that produce a great deal of exudate (wound fluid) this may be as short as a few hours at the beginning. In wounds that produce less fluid the Cerdak may be left in place for two to three days. If a wound becomes uncomfortable or painful when it is not expected, it should be opened and inspected for any complications. |
| |
| Q |
: |
"I have heard from friends that Cerdak is unbelievable and that their paraplegic mother's bedsore had healed wonderfully in a relatively short period of time with tremendous relief of pain and odour. Is this Cerdak just another "wonder cure" that works miracles for those who believe in it? How does it work?" |
| A |
: |
Cerdak is not a wonder cure. The physical action of the ceramic is well understood and is very logical. It absorbs old, excess wound fluid, leaving a minimal amount of moisture on the surface. Wounds heal because nature intends them to do so and the body is equipped with a very sophisticated genetically programmed biochemical process to achieve this. The action of Cerdak merely makes this process very effective (optimizes it). |
| |
| Q |
: |
"I have an old ulcer on my lower leg which was the size of a 50c coin. I am using Cerdak and the wound has been healing well up to a point. It now appears not to be healing any further. What should I do?" |
| A |
: |
One should continue with the Cerdak, but your doctor or nurse looking after you should look for signs of poor circulation, infection or swelling of the tissues around the wound. Infection is the commonest reason for this state of affairs and can usually be treated quite easily with the appropriate antibiotics. It is usually necessary to do a swab and to ask the laboratory to culture the bacteria responsible for the problem. They will determine which the best antibiotic will be to solve the problem. Antibiotic treatment should then be given for a minimum of 10 days, but preferably longer. |
| |
| Q |
: |
"My wound is very, very wet. I put a bag on the wound in the morning and by 12 o'clock fluid is running down my leg. Should I change the bag twice a day?" |
| A |
: |
Yes, even quicker if necessary. If the sachet looks nearly saturated (discoloured) change it. Usually this problem will resolve fairly quickly because the fluid is produced in the wound due to inflammation and Cerdak reduces inflammation in wounds. |
| |
| Q |
: |
"My wound started to heal well but since this weekend, it got a little bit red and swollen around the edges. Do you think that I am allergic to Cerdak?" |
| A |
: |
The ceramic in Cerdak is completely inert and has no potential to cause allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can only take place if chemicals are released into the body and the body then reacts to them in a specific abnormal manner.
The material used for the sachets is a medical grade organic material with FDA approval. Redness around the edges may be due to an irritation reaction of the plaster, or changes in the blood flow of the wound edges as the healing process gets under way. It is not necessary to stop Cerdak. Always make sure again that there is not a complicating infection coming from deeper tissues.
|
| |
| Q |
: |
"My dad has a massive bedsore on the sacral area. He is a paraplegic and is overweight. How should I apply the Cerdak - must I use a few bags and stick them into the wound or just use one of the big bags and put it over the wound?" |
| A |
: |
Cerdak Cavity is ideal for use in large, deep wounds. A deep wound may also be packed with smaller Cerdak bags or a long segmented one, folded. Make sure that the Cerdak is in contact with every part of the wound. Use as little adhesive tape as possible as this will make the surrounding skin irritated and may lead to further problems. |
