Exploring the four major benefits of standardizing topical skin adhesive protocols

Trish Chaloux
Vizient Associate Principal, Surgical Services

Topical skin adhesives are a versatile solution for wound closure across various medical settings. Unlike traditional sutures or staples, adhesives are convenient and less invasive, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of infection. Each type of topical skin adhesive offers distinct advantages and considerations in surgical settings.

Surgeons have a surplus of options when it comes to topical skin adhesives. Ranging from cyanoacrylate-based glues to fibrin sealants, this variety offers flexibility but also introduces complexity and ambiguity. The diverse properties of adhesives — such as viscosity, setting time and tensile strength — make product selection and use challenging. Additionally, variations in application techniques further contribute to inconsistency in outcomes.

By addressing variation and exploring the unique characteristics of each product, you can achieve the following:

• Managed outcomes: By establishing standardized protocols for adhesive selection and application, surgeons can ensure consistent wound closure techniques across procedures. This consistency minimizes variability in outcomes and enhances overall patient satisfaction.
• Reduced complications: Adhesive-related complications — such as allergic reactions, skin irritation and poor wound healing — can occur if the wrong adhesive is chosen or applied incorrectly. Standardization and education help mitigate these risks by promoting the use of proven, safe adhesives and proper application techniques.
• Streamlined workflows: Standardized protocols simplify the decision-making process for surgeons and operating room staff, leading to more efficient workflows. With clear guidelines in place, time spent deliberating over adhesive choices is minimized, allowing focus to remain on the surgical task at hand.
• Cost savings: By standardizing adhesive usage, healthcare facilities can negotiate bulk purchasing agreements with suppliers, leading to cost savings. Additionally, reduced complications and improved outcomes can translate to lower healthcare expenditures associated with post-operative care.

While the benefits of standardization are clear, implementing standardized protocols for topical skin adhesives poses its own set of challenges. Surgeons may resist change, especially if they've established preferences for certain adhesives or techniques. Additionally, education and training are necessary to make sure that all members of the surgical team are familiar with the universal protocols. Standardization empowers surgeons to provide the highest quality of care to their patients while also fostering confidence in the product and process.

Author

Trish Chaloux is a Vizient associate principal of surgical services where she leads clinical consulting in physician preference items. She has more than 25 years of nursing and service line administration experience. Prior to joining Vizient, she held leadership roles at Baptist Health System of East Tennessee and Covenant Health System. Chaloux earned bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing and nursing administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.