Types Of Dressings

Question 1

Hydrocolloids

Answer 1

Indications: useful for partial and full-thickness wounds. The dressings. Am be used effectively with granular or necrotic wounds.

Advantages: provides a moist environment for would healing, enables autolytic debridement, offers protection form microbial contamination, provides moderate absorption, does no t require a secondary dressing, and provides a waterproof surface.

Disadvantages: may traumatized surrounding intact skin upon removal, may tend to roll in areas of excessive friction, cannot be used on infected wounds.

Question 2

Hydrogel

Answer 2

Indications: are moisture retentive and commonly used in superficial and partial-thickness wounds (e.g. Abrasions, blisters, pressure ulcers) that have minimal drainage.

Advantages: provides a moist environment for would healing, enables autolytic debridement, may reduce pressure and diminish pain, can be used as a coupling agent for ultrasound, minimally adheres to wound, some products have absorptive properties.

Disadvantages: potential for dressing to dehydrate, cannot be used on worlds with significant drainage, typically requires a secondary dressing.

Question 3

Foam dressing

Answer 3

Indications: used to provide protection and absorption over partial and full-thickness wounds with varying levels of exudate. They can also be used as secondary dressing over amorphous hydrogel.

Advantages: provides a moist environment for wound healing, available in adhesive and non-adhesive forms, provides prophylactic protection and cushioning, encourages autolytic debridement, provides moderate absorption.

Disadvantages: may tend to roll on areas of excessive friction, adhesive form may traumatized periwound area upon removal, lack of transparency makes inspection of wound difficult.

Question 4

Transparent Film

Answer 4

Indications: useful for superficial or partial-thickness wounds with minimal drainage (e.g., scalds, abrasions, b,interns, pressure ulcers) that have minimal drainage.

Advantages: provides a moist environment for would healing, enables autolytic debridement, allows visualization of the wound, resistant to shearing and frictional forces, cost effective over time.

Disadvantages: excessive exudate accumulation can result in periwound maceration, adhesive may traumatized periwound area upon removal, cannot be used on infected wounds.

Question 5

Gauze

Answer 5

Indications: used on infected or non-infected wounds of any size. The dressing can be used for wet-to-wet, wet-to-moist or wet-to-dry debridement.

Advantages: readily available and cost effective short-term dressings, can be used alone or in combination with other dressings and topical agents, can modify number of layers to accommodate for changing wound status, can be used on infected or non-infected wounds.

Disadvantages: has a tendency to adhere to the wound bed traumatizing viable tissue on removal, highly permeable, requires frequent dressing changes, prolonged use decreases cost effectiveness, increased infection rate compared to occlusive dressing.

Question 6

Alginates

Answer 6

Indications: used on partial or full-thickness draining wounds such as pressure or venous insufficiency ulcers, alginates are often used on infected wounds due to the likelihood of excessive drainage.

Advantages: high absorptive capacity, enables debridement, offers protection form microbial contamination, can be used on infected or non-infected wounds, non-adhering to wound.

Disadvantages: may require frequent dressing changes based on level of exudate, requires a secondary dressing, cannot be used in wounds with an exposed tendon, joint capsule or bone.

Question 7

Dressing from most occlusive to non-occlusive

Answer 7

1. Hydrocolloids
2. Hydrogel
3. Semipermeable Foam
4. Semipermeable Film
5. Impregnated Gauze
6. Alginates
7. Traditional Gauze

Question 8

Dressing from most to least moisture retentive

Answer 8

1. Alginates
2. Semipermeable Foams
3. Hydrocolloids
4. Hydrogel
5. Semipermeable Films