Dressings

Question 1

How long is saline good for after opening?

Answer 1

24 hours

Question 2

When is sterile technique used?

Answer 2

packing wounds, large surface wounds, severe burns, immunocompromised

Question 3

What are three descriptions of dressings?

Answer 3

passive- bandaid

active- autolytic debridement

interactive- something that removes exudate

Question 4

What happens if a wound is too moist?

Answer 4

maceration, additional damage, increased chance of infxn

Question 5

What happens if a wound is too dry?

Answer 5

crust formation, lacks enzymes, no epitheliazation

Question 6

What is a primary layer for dressings?

Answer 6

this directly contacts wound, bottom layer can be semi adherent or non adherent

Question 7

What is a secondary dressing?

Answer 7

placed over primary layer one of two choices:

1. absorbent- intermediete layer
2. outer layer- secures dressing/protects wound

Question 8

What is regular gauzed used for?

Answer 8

tunneling, undermining, highly exuding wounds- frequent dressing changes

Question 9

What is benefit for gauze?

Answer 9

low cost and provides cushioning for wounds

Question 10

What are limitations of gauze?

Answer 10

highly permeable, frequent changes, higher infection rate

Question 11

What is impregnated gauze for?

Answer 11

burns, epitheliazation/granulating wounds, deep wounds, painful wounds

Question 12

What are benefits of impregnated gauze?

Answer 12

decrease pain and trauma during changes, can increase occlusiveness of gauze

Question 13

What are limitations of impregnated gauze?

Answer 13

high cost, minimal absorption, requires secondary dressing

Question 14

What are occlusive dressings?

Answer 14

ability of a dressing to maintain moisture levels and able to transmit moisture vapor and gases from wound bed to atmosphere

Question 15

Can occlusive dressings be used with infected wounds?

Answer 15

No, except for alginate

Question 16

What are general benefits for occlusive dressings?

Answer 16

comfortable, various sizes, less time for change, fewer changes

Question 17

Some providers fear a moist dressing can cause infection is this true?

Answer 17

No, occlusive dressings have lower infection rates than non-occ.

Question 18

What is order of most occlusive to least occlusive dressings?

Answer 18

1. hydrocolloid, hydrogel, semipermeable foam, impregnated gauze, calcium alginate, gauze

Question 19

What are transparent films used for?

Answer 19

skin tears, donor sites, ultrasound, partial thickness wounds, stage 1-2 ulcers

Question 20

What are benefits for transparent film?

Answer 20

moisture retentive, autolytic debridement, waterproof, can see wound w/o removing

Question 21

What are limitations of transparent film?

Answer 21

not for highly exudative wounds, don’t use on infected wounds, or with pts with fragile skin

Question 22

How long can a film be left on?

Answer 22

5-7 days

Question 23

What is use of semipermeable foams?

Answer 23

minor burns, skin grafts, donor sites, pressure venous and diabetic ulcers

Question 24

What are benefits of foam?

Answer 24

moisture reten, easy to use, autolytic debridement, mod exudate, permeable to gas but not bacteria

Question 25

What are limitations?

Answer 25

can roll in areas of friction, not good for dry wounds

Question 26

How long can foam be on?

Answer 26

7 days unless exudate is filled to edge

Question 27

What are uses of hydrogel?

Answer 27

primary dressing used for min exudate, pressure ulcer stage 2-4 , partial to full thickness, skin tears

Question 28

What are benefits of hyrdrogel?

Answer 28

moist reten, autolytic, excellent for dry wounds

Question 29

What are limitations of hydrogel?

Answer 29

may dehydrate wounds, always a primary dressing, can’t use with pts with preservative allergies

Question 30

What are uses of hydrocolloid?

Answer 30

primary or secondary used forpressure ulcers, burns, dry wounds

Question 31

What are benefits of hydrocolloid?

Answer 31

moisture reten, autolytic, most impermeable to liquids, mod absorption

Question 32

What are limitations of hydrocolloid?

Answer 32

can cause hyper granulation, injure preowned, not for dry or highly exudating wounds

Question 33

What is a hydroactive dressings?

Answer 33

combination of hyrdocolloid ( no gel) and foam (absorb more)

Question 34

What is an alginate dressing?

Answer 34

primary dressing used for high exuding wounds, tunneling, DM

Question 35

What are benefits of alginate?

Answer 35

high absorption, Can be used on infected wounds

Question 36

What are limitations of alginate?

Answer 36

not for dry wounds, caution if close to tendon, bone, muscle

Question 37

How much exudate can alginate absorb?

Answer 37

20x its own weight but needs to have a secondary dressing

Question 38

Why manage exudate?

Answer 38

can slow down healing process, cause infection

Question 39

Which type of wound usually has more exudate chronic or acute?

Answer 39

chronic, stuck in inflammatory stage

Question 40

What are two types of biological dressings?

Answer 40

tissues from animals or human sources

1. collagen
2. growth factor ( Regranex)

Question 41

What should be done for granular non draining wound?

Answer 41

maintain moist environment, no debridement, could use: impregnated gauze, film, hydrogel, hydrocolloid

Question 42

What should be done for granular draining wound?

Answer 42

observe for infection, absorb exudate

can use: alginate, hydroactives, foam, hydrocollid if not infected

Question 43

What should be done for necrotic non draining?

Answer 43

remove eschar, moist environment, needs debridement

can use: gauze, film, hydrogel, hydrocolloid

Question 44

What should be done for necrotic non draining?

Answer 44

remove eschar, moist environment, needs debridement, absorb exudate

Can use: alginate, hydroactive, foam, hydrocolloid

Question 45

What should be done for infected wounds?

Answer 45

avoid occlusive dressing but can use foam or alginate, manage exudate