Andrea Pinto Leite Ribeiro

Objectives: to analyze the evidence on the cost and effectiveness of Plaque Rich Plasma in the treatment of venous ulcers compared to other topical therapies. Methods: systematic review, with search in the databases: COCHRANE, EMBASE, MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, without temporal cut and in the English, Portuguese and Spanish languages. Results: fifteen articles were included, a cost-minimization analysis showed that the cost of Plaque Rich Plasma is € 163.00 ± 65.90, slightly higher than the cost of standard dressing. Regarding effectiveness, the results of the studies associated with the meta-analysis suggest a tendency that Plaque Rich Plasma is effective in the healing of venous ulcers. Conclusions: it is concluded that there are few studies about the cost of Platelet Rich Plasma and this product tends to be effective in the healing of venous ulcers. However, more controlled and randomized clinical studies are necessary in order to establish a stronger recommendation.

Objective: to estimate the direct cost of producing autologous platelet rich plasma gel. Method: an economic, prospective, longitudinal study with direct cost estimation, from the perspective of the Unified Health System, conducted in a university hospital in the state of Rio de Janeiro, over a period of 12 weeks. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine. Direct observation of 18 participants was conducted. Material and human resources categories were analyzed for production costs. Results: the cost of producing platelet rich plasma gel was US $4.88 per session, for a total of US $5.16, when the material resources per unit were considered in the Unified Health System. The time to complete the procedure was approximately 22 minutes. Conclusion: the production of platelet rich plasma gel involves low cost material resources for both blood collection and preparation, enabling universal access to treatment. The procedure requires trained staff in an appropriate location; it is a safe and inexpensive technology.

Key words: Varicose Ulcer; Leg Ulcer; Papain; Treatment Outcome; Nursing

Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, cujo objetivo é analisar as evidências sobre o uso da papaína na cicatrização de feridas. Foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico manual e eletrônico nas bases de dados: LILACS; COCHRANE; IBECS; MEDLINE via Pubmed e CINAHL, utilizando os seguintes termos como descritores e como palavras: Carica; Papaína; e Cicatrização, período de 1987 a 2010. Os resultados apontaram predomínio de estudos descritivos, exploratórios, estudos de caso e relatos de caso, apenas um ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado. Os resultados também evidenciaram que a papaína é usada em feridas de diversas etiologias e em todas as fases da cicatrização, sem contraindicações específicas, sendo efetiva e segura, embora haja relatos de ardência e dor. Conclui-se que este estudo contribuiu para demonstrar o uso da papaína nesse período, como fonte de consulta, além de apontar para necessidade de pesquisas com maior rigor metodológico, que proporcionem evidências fortes do seu uso e recomendação.