Optimising vulvar wound management

With funding support from WCMICS, the Royal Women’s Hospital set out to reduce the high rates of wound infection and breakdown after surgery for vulvar cancers. These complications are reported in gynae-oncology services statewide, nationwide, and internationally, but no organisation had achieved any measurable success in solving the problem.

The project team undertook a literature review, medical record audit, wound management courses, staff, and patient surveys, and received expert input from clinicians and consumers. The knowledge and data gained were then used to develop, new guidelines, processes, and educational materials for patients and staff.

Equipment packs were also put together to ensure patients had reliable, consistent materials to perform self-care for their wounds. A patient factsheet can now be downloaded from The Women’s website.

Impacts

Patient and staff surveys and medical record audit were repeated 12 months after the completion of the project, to assess the impact of the interventions on complication rates, length of stay, and readmissions.