Wound Dressing Flashcards
What are the primary goals of wound dressings?
- maintain a moist wound bed
- protect surrounding skin
- control exudate
- fill dead space
- protect wound from the environment
- allow gas exchange
- maintain normal thermia
- be impermeable to microorganisms
- be non-traumatic with removal.
What are the benefits of moist wound healing?
- traps endogenous enzymes for autolytic debridement
- preserves growth factors
- reduces pain
- prevents hypertrophic scarring
- speeds up healing
How can you protect surrounding skin when applying wound dressings?
- use skin protectants (e.g., dimethicone, silicone, zinc oxide)
- ensure proper drainage control
- avoid aggressive adhesives
- use gentle adhesives or moisturizers on intact skin
What are the potential complications of excessive moisture in wound care?
- Maceration
- increased wound size
- higher infection risk
What is the purpose of filling dead space in wound care?
- to confine packing material to the wound bed
- ensure sterile technique
- prevent abscess formation
What functions do primary and secondary dressings serve?
Primary: Direct contact, antimicrobial, moisture balance.
Secondary: Protection, cushioning, absorption, and occlusion.
Describe semipermeable film dressings and their contraindications.
Semipermeable Film:
- Thin polyurethane sheets with adhesive, allow gas exchange but are non-absorptive
- Contraindicated for infected or heavily draining wounds.
What are the characteristics of hydrogel dressings?
- amorphous gel or sheet form
- maintains moisture
- reduces heat
- can absorb small exudate
- facilitates autolytic debridement
What are the contraindications for hydrocolloid dressings?
- bleeding, heavily draining wounds
- infected wounds
- dry wounds
- arterial ulcers
- wounds with exposed tendons
What are semipermeable foams and their indications?
Semipermeable Foams:
- Foam dressings that provide thermal insulation, conform to surfaces.
- Used for minimal to moderate exudating wounds like venous ulcers or burns.
Explain alginate dressings and their indications.
- Highly absorbent dressings made from marine algae.
- Suitable for highly exudating wounds and tunneling wounds.
Describe gauze dressings and their use.
Absorbent, permeable, and non-occlusive; used for packing, frequent changes, and managing various wound sizes and etiologies.
What are impregnated gauze dressings?
Gauze with additives like petrolatum or bismuth, used for non-adherent dressing over granulating wounds or as antimicrobial dressing.
What are antimicrobial wound dressings and their types?
Dressings with broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents like silver, iodine, PHMB, and DACC, used for infected wounds.
What factors should be considered in clinical decision-making for wound dressings?
Moisture balance, drainage control, infection prevention, dressing frequency, and wound type (granulating, necrotic, or infected).
Which of the following is a primary goal of wound dressings?
- A) To increase wound pH
- B) To maintain a moist wound bed
- C) To decrease oxygen exchange
- D) To reduce patient complaints without addressing wound healing
- B (Correct): A moist wound environment supports healing by trapping enzymes, reducing pain, and minimizing scarring.
- A (Incorrect): Wound pH should be balanced, not increased.
- C (Incorrect): Oxygen exchange is crucial for wound healing, so decreasing it would be counterproductive.
- D (Incorrect): While reducing patient discomfort is important, it should not come at the expense of wound healing.
What type of wound dressing is typically used for partial-thickness burns and donor sites to maintain moisture?
- A) Hydrocolloids
- B) Alginates
- C) Hydrogels
- D) Impregnated gauze
- C (Correct): Hydrogels are designed to maintain moisture and are effective on partial-thickness burns and donor sites.
- A (Incorrect): Hydrocolloids are better suited for moisture-retentive applications, but they are not typically used for burns.
- B (Incorrect): Alginates are for highly exudating wounds due to their absorbent properties.
- D (Incorrect): Impregnated gauze is primarily used to protect granulation tissue and maintain a moist environment, but it’s less effective than hydrogels for burns.
Which of the following wound dressings is impermeable to bacteria but permeable to oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide?
- A) Semipermeable foam
- B) Semipermeable film
- C) Hydrocolloid
- D) Gauze
- B (Correct): Semipermeable film dressings are designed to be impermeable to bacteria, making them suitable for protecting wounds while allowing gas exchange.
- A (Incorrect): Semipermeable foam dressings are permeable to gas and provide moisture retention but have different properties regarding bacteria permeability.
- C (Incorrect): Hydrocolloids are relatively occlusive and may be impermeable to both gas and bacteria.
- D (Incorrect): Gauze is highly permeable and does not offer bacterial protection.
Which wound dressing is most suitable for highly exudating wounds due to its high absorbent capacity?
- A) Hydrocolloids
- B) Alginates
- C) Impregnated gauze
- D) Transparent films
- B (Correct): Alginates are ideal for managing highly exudating wounds due to their exceptional absorbency.
- A (Incorrect): Hydrocolloids can absorb moisture but are not as effective as alginates for heavy exudate.
- C (Incorrect): Impregnated gauze is primarily used for maintaining moisture rather than absorbing large amounts of exudate.
- D (Incorrect): Transparent films are non-absorbent and mainly used for superficial wounds.
Which dressing type is NOT recommended for infected wounds?
- A) Hydrocolloids
- B) Alginates
- C) Gauze
- D) Semipermeable foam
- A (Correct): Hydrocolloids are moisture-retentive and occlusive, making them unsuitable for infected wounds.
- B (Incorrect): Alginates are suitable for infected wounds because they absorb exudate and can help manage bioburden.
- C (Incorrect): Gauze can be used for both infected and non-infected wounds, allowing frequent dressing changes.
- D (Incorrect): Semipermeable foams can be used on infected wounds, especially when used as secondary dressings to absorb exudate.
