Wound care Flashcards
Woven gauze
100% cotton gauze. Good for debridement, wicks vertically, high loft/bulk.
Nonwoven gauze
Synthetic gauze comprised of polyester for non-adherence and rayon for absorbency.
Lower lint, less adherent, horizontal wicking.
U.S. Guaze
• Tested and proven hypoallergenic – safe for patient use w/ any skin type
• USPVII (US Pharmacopeia’s Standard) – often “exceeds” the national standards set
o Testing includes: Chemical purity, thread count, absorbency, sterility, etc…
• Machine Folded vs. Hand Folded – Limited human hands leads to less risk of contamination
• US Cotton Crops Rotated – no slash/burn technique means no risk of p.domesticum
• Tested for endotoxin/pyrogen levels (dead cellular bugs) – less debris and risk of contamination provides cleaner, safer gauze
• Manufacturing is rotor spinning – less debris and higher levels of absorbency
• Air jet loomed – virtually no friction – less lint and better chance of blowing out debris
Import Gauze
- Usually “meets” USPVII standards.
- Fields are slashed/burned – elevates risk of p.domesticum, a mold found in the burned residue in soil, can only be killed by steam sterilization
- Questionable Agricultural Practices – fertilizing, harvesting, shipping/handling of crops
- Higher levels of endotoxin/pyrogen levels (dead cellular bugs) – debris increase risk of contamination
- Manufactured with Ring Spun Technique – potentially traps debris and offers less absorbency
- Shuttle Loomed – Friction caused by Shuttle = increased lint
U.S. vs Import Gauze: Talk Track
- Cotton is grown as a plant – talk about crop rotation vs. slash/burn, questionable fertilization techniques in china
- Harvested cotton is spun into thread – discuss F/B of rotor vs. ring spinning
- Thread is woven into a fabric – discuss F/B of air jet loomed vs. shuttle loom
- Fabric is folded and cut into dressings – discuss F/B of hand vs. machine folding
- At this point you check for customer buy-in/agreement that US dressings are clinically superior.
- Next you address financial implications that can occur from using sub-par dressings..specifically addressing the “silo” talk track
- And this gives you a lead in to explain our blended strategy approach.
Dermacea
value brand gauze
• Cost savings alternative
• Made in China, using either Winner or Allmed (company that Medline uses) =if they use medline product, Dermacea will be clinically acceptable.
• Consistency – only using two mfgs in China
• Sterility – all Dermacea products are steam sterilized, steam is the only way to kill p.domesticum
• Absorbency – we are not as absorbent as our American line, but just as absorbent as all the other Chinese brands….at least we are up front about that and offer two options.
• Blended Strategy Approach
Blended Strategy
Customer is adamant about saving money in TWC. You can use Curity for those codes being used in direct patient contact, and use Dermacea for the non-clinical codes… Promotes cost saving, but doesn’t sacrifice patient care.
Substrate
Backing on the tape/ adhesive. It’s the material that anchors the adhesive.
Two types of adhesive technology?
- Hotmelt (medline) - starts with a solid “block” of glue, adhesive is applied by direct coating at high temps, then cured by rapid cooling (hot glue gun).
- Solvent (3m, Kendall) - acrylic adhesive applied through polymer disbursement, substrate given a “bath” on one side, adhesive cured by heating at high temps.
Differences in the two adhesive technologies?
- Hotmelt is a cheaper alternative
- solvent requires a more sophisticated manufacturing process
- solvents degrade less over time
- solvents are more resistant to temperature changes
- solvents are more resistant to fluids
- solvents are more conformable
- solvents feature higher breathability
Tape: Paper
Used for fragile skin, lightweight tube or dressing securement.
Tape: Cloth
Securement for dressings & ostomy pouches, securement over areas where skin may stretch.
-Breathable
Tape: Clear
Securement for tubing, bi-directional tear is easy to customize length/width.
Tape: Standard porous tape
High initial adhesion for secure of tubing/devices.
-Works well for finger/toe immobilization.
Tape: Water proof
Dressing protection, outpatient use.
-Easy to write on
Tape: Cohesive Bandages
Compression dressing, securement of anything… tubes, dressings, splints, etc.
Tape: Curasilk
Immobilization of joints/limbs, strong adhesion is essential
Curi-strips
Adhesive stitches, used for wound closure.
Skin Anatomy: What are the 5 layers beginning from outer most layer.
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Subcutaneous Tissue
- Fascia
- Muscle
Epidermis
thin, outermost layer
Dermis
thick, sensitive layer, contains sweat glands, nerve endings, and is vascular (contains blood & lymph vessels).
Subcutaneous Tissue
Primarily made of adipose (fat) tissue.
Fascia
Connective tissue that forms a coating around each muscle, holding fibers in place
Muscle
Tissue that contracts and relaxes to produce movement, maintain tension, or pump fluids within body.
What are the 4 stages of wound healing?
- Debridement
- Granulation
- Epithelialization
- Maturation
Debridement
The wound area is cleared of dead tissue and debris before healing commences.
Granulation
The volume is filled in by new dermal like tissue.
Epithelialization
New epidermis migrates across the wound
Maturation
New epidermis and new dermis mature in structure and become functional.
What are the four different types of Ulcers?
- Diabetic- caused by trauma or pressure related to the neuropathy or vascular disease associated with diabetes.
- Venous Statis- Occurs over or near ankle joint, cause by edema and impaired venous blood return.
- Arterial- Caused by ischemia (deficient blood supply to tissue)
- Pressure- Ischemia caused by pressure
Stages of Pressure Ulcers?
Stage I - intact skin, non-blanchable redness
Stage II- partial thickness, shallow open ulcer or serum filled blister
Stage III- full thickness, subcutaneous visible
Stage IV- full thickness, exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
Unstagable- full thickness, base of ulcer is covered by slough or eschar so you can’t gauge depth.