Wound Care Dressings Flashcards
transparent film pros
Tegaderm
- less care than gauze
- water-resistant
- autolytic debridement
- retains moisture
transparent film cons
Tegaderm
- may dislodge in high friction areas
- difficult to apply/handle
- minimal exudate management
- maceration - wound intact w/ too much moisture
Hydrogels wound type
dry arterial ulcers, non-exudate wounds
hydrogels pros
- min to mod absorption
- autolytic debridement
- fills in dead space
- cheap and easy to apply
hydrogels cons
- requires secondary dressing
- dehydrates if not covered
- might cause maceration - skin in contact w/ moisture for too long
Foam pros
- warm, moist environment ideal for healing
- works well on bony prominences
- cushion and compression
- barrier against bacteria
- suitable for hypergranulation wounds
Foam cons
- wounds may dry out
- maceration can occur
- not suitable for 3rd degree burns, sinus tracts or wounds w/ dry eschar
calcium alginates pros
- absorbant - for moderate to heavy exudate
- regulates blood flow and promotes clotting
- promotes quicker and efficient healing
calcium alginates wounds
- deep pressure ulcers
- diabetic ulcers
- venous ulcers
calcium alginates cons
- don’t use on dry wounds or wounds that bleed heavy
- if left on too long it will be painful to take off
hydrocolloids wounds
non-infected wounds w/ low exudate
hydrocolloids pros
- impermeable to bacteria
- only adheres to surrounding skin
- minimal healing disruption b/c only needs changing every couple of days
hydrocolloids cons
- can dislodge w/ heavy exudate
- periwound may macerate
- may cause hypergranulation
- can curl up edges
- gel that forms is thick/yellow and can be mistaken for infection
hydrofibers pros
- very absorptive - moderate to heavy exudate
- useful in deep wounds
- maintain moist environment
- encourages autolytic debridement
- dressing can last up to 3 days
hydrofibers cons
- expensive
- can expand and overfill
- requires secondary dressing
- cannot be used on patients sensitive to silver
What is the difference between calcium alginates and hydrofibers?
hydrofibers has stitching so it will not fall apart in wounds like calcium alginates
- hydrofibers is the “next generation” of calcium alginates
What is needed for medical grade honey application? What should be done if applying to LE?
- need good blood flow
- check pedal pulses in LE
medical grade honey wounds
- wounds
- sores
- ulcers
- partial or full-thickness burns
medical grade honey pros
- rapidly clean slough and eschar
- promotes fast healing - autolytic debridement
- for wounds w/ moderate to heavy exudate
- reduces odor
- reduces edema
- lowers wound pH
- beneficial for multidrug-resistant bacteria
medical grade honey cons
- can’t use if patient is allergic to bee venom
- batch to batch variation in antibacterial activity
- if diabetic, monitor sugar levels if wound is large
collagenase (Santyl) characteristics
- slow acting because it is cleaving the collagen connecting necrotic tissue to healthy tissue. More effective when combined with selective sharp debridement to allow enzyme to penetrate deeper.
collagenase (Santyl) pros
- change once a day
- no known contraindications
- not harmful to health tissue
collagenase (Santyl) cons
- expensive
- slow effects
- requires MD prescription
What is considered the first line dressing choice for partial/deep thickness burns?
Silver Sulfadiazene (Silvadene)
Silver Sulfadiazene (Silvadene) pros
- decrease risk of sepsis
- inhibits bacterial growth
- bactericidal against gram negative and gram positive as well as yeast
Silver Sulfadiazene (Silvadene) cons
- leukopenia
- necrosis
- screening for kidney and liver problems
- interstitial nephritis
- pain, burning, sulfa allergies
