Wound Care Dressing Categories Flashcards
Gauze dressing is used for
To protect surgical or minimally draining wounds, or wound packing
Gauze dressing requires
A cover dressing to remain intact
Gauze does not support
Moisture vapour transfer
-limited role in absorbing drainage
Frequency of change for a gauze dressing
Daily or when saturated or soiled
What is the best use for transparent film?
-securing IV tubing
-keeping a dressing intact and occlusive (NPWT)
Transparent film is not suitable for
Wounds with moderate to large amounts of drainage, fragile periwound skin, third degree burns
Gauze is mostly used to
Clean wounds, occasionally for packing
Transparent film is used to help
Visualize wound and skin underneath dressing
To remove transparent film you must
Use a lateral pull
-start at transverse edge, go slowly
-avoid adhesive remover as it further dries skin
Frequency of change for transparent film
3-4 days or when drainage/exudate remains on the wound or periwound skin
What is the use for hydro colloid dressing
Automatic debridement of non infected wounds with slough or necrotic tissue
-pressure injures (2,3,unstageable)
Thin hydrocolloid dressing maybe used for
Friction or shearing
Hydrocolloid dressing is not suitable for
-infected wounds
-moderate to significant drainage
-third degree burns
-arterial wounds
-fragile skin due to adhesive dressing
Important aspects of hydrocolloid dressing
-protect periwound skin with barrier wipe prior to application
-dressing will wrinkle and cream coloured material will be visible as autolysis occurs
-odour may be present with removal (this is not infection it is due to dressing)
Frequency of change of hydrocolloid dressing
Every 5-7 days, or when autolyzed material is within 1.5 cm of border
When do you use Hydrogel dressing
Promoting moisture in a dry wound bed
-partial to full thickness, pressure injury
-shallow to deep wounds
-dry to light exudate
-necrotic
Hydrogel dressing is suitable for
Third degree burns, wounds with existing drainage
-when hydrocolloid is already used
Hydrogel requires
A cover dressing
Hydrogel dressing can be used to
Moisten ribbon or gauze dressing to decrease trauma to wound bed
Frequency of change for hydrogel dressing
Per wound bed requirement, generally 2-4 days so that hydrogel interacts with wound bed tissue
What is the use for Alginate and hydrofibre dressings
-moderate to heavy draining wounds
-shallow or deep
-pressure injury
-venous ulcers
Mainly absorption of exudate!!
Alginate and hydro fibre dressings are not suitable for
Dry wounds, third degree burns, wounds with dry eschar, or in combination with hydrogels
Alginate and hydrofibre dressings are highly…
Absorptive
Frequency of change for alginate and hydrofibre dressings
Per wound requirements, but minimum of 2 days
