Dressings Flashcards
Occlusive dressings
Maintain tissue hydration
Facilitates auto lyric debridement
Wound healing with less pain
***Contraindicated over infected wounds, deep ischemic ulcers, full thickness burns, very heavy exudate, stage IV ulcers
Gauze
Early debridement
Exudate present
Wound with dead spaces or tunneling
Necrotic tissue with exudate
Advantages: can be used with saline, gels, topical antimocrobials can be used on infected wounds mechanical debridement filler for larger wounds
Disadvantages:
frequent dressing changes
pain with removal (wet to dry)
may require secondary dressing
***Contraindicated over granulation tissue without some type of intermediate non adherent dressing
Alginates
Derived from seaweed and react with exudate to form gel over wound
Used over wounds with moderate-large amounts of exudate or with exudate & necrosis
Advantages: easy to apply supports debridement in presence of exudate fills dead space can be used over infected wounds
Disadvantages:
need secondary gauze or film bandaging over top
Not recommended for dry or lightly exudating wounds (could dry out the woud)
Films
Clear adhesive membrane permeable to atmospheric oxygen & moisture vapor & impermeable to water, bacteria, & contaminants
Maintains moist wound environment with minimum to moderate exudate
Often stage I and stage II pressure ulcers
Advantages:
minimize friction
transparent & comfortable
excellent bacterial barrier
promotes faster healing & auto lyric debridement
visual evaluation of wound without removal
Disadvantages:
nonabsorptive
application can be difficult
Do NOT use on fragile skin or infected wounds
Foams
Cushion & protect wound
Hydrophilic on wound side and hydrophobic on nonwound side
Advantages: insulate provide padding can absorb large amounts of exudate comfortable easy to use
Disadvantages:
require secondary dressing
Do NOT use on dry eschar or wounds with no exudate
Hydrocolloid
Adhesive wafers that interact with wound to form gelatinous mass
May be occlusive or semi-occlusive
Absorbs minimal to moderate exudate
Protects partial thickness wounds
Advantages: Maintains moist wound environment Excellent bacterial barrier No adhesive to healing tissue Comfortable Supports auto lyric debridement Reduces pain Easy to apply Time saving Diminishes friction
Disadvantages:
May soften or change shape with heat or friction
Dressing edges may curl
Do NOT use on infected wounds, wounds with heavy exudate, or with fragile surrounding tissue
Hydrogels
Water or glycerine-based gel
Used with partial or full thickness wounds with necrosis… Tissue damage from burns or radiation
Absorb minimal amounts of exudate, letting some exudate pass through to a secondary dressing
Advantages: Conforms to wound Rehydrates & maintains moist wound environment Promotes autolytic debridement Soothing & cooling Transparent Nonadherent Amorphous foam can be used with infection
Disadvantages:
Most require secondary dressing
May macerate surrounding skin
Do NOT use with high exudate production
Nonadherent
Gauze-like
Often petroleum based impregnated with some type of solution to promote granulation or inhibit bacterial formation
Require secondary dressing
Nonabsorptive
Umma boot
Semirigid dressing
Pliable, nonstretchable
Impregnated with ointments (zinc oxide, calamine, gelatin)
Used for venous insufficiency ulcers to control for edema & help with healing
