Application of Bacterial Cellulose Film as a Wound Dressing in Varicose Vein Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Chronic venous insufficiency is common all over the world. It is often related to lower limb varicose veins. Surgical treatment is necessary in most cases but the management of the operative wounds (OW) remains a challenge. Nowadays, there is no consensus on which is the ideal dressing for covering OW, but features such as low cost, hypoallergenicity and good adherence are expected.

Objective: In this study, a material that meets all these features, the bacterial cellulose film, was evaluated in patients underwent varicose vein surgery.

Methods: Randomized, prospective clinical trial was carried out at the Angiology and Vascular Surgery Department of the Hospital das Clínicas / EBSERH - UFPE, from May 2023 to September 2024. The study included 55 patients who underwent varicose vein surgery, divided in two groups: an experimental group which used bacterial cellulose film to cover micro-incisions and a control group which used microporous tape. Between the 4th and 6th postoperative day, the patients were assessed for pain, itching and wound appearance using the Southampton Wound Assessment Scale. The groups were homogeneous in all demographic data, presence of comorbidities and CEAP Clinical Classification.

Results: Pain on removal was more frequent in the control group with a mean scale score of 3.46 (+/- 3.26) compared to 0.63 (+/- 1.38) with p<0.001.

Conclusion: There was no statistical difference between the groups in itching and wound healing. Bacterial cellulose film showed healing results compatible with microporous tape, with the advantage of generating less pain on removal.