Wound Dressings Flashcards
What is the Primary Dressing?
Dressing that is in direct contact with the wound
What is the secondary dressing?
Placed over the primary dressing, secures the primary dressing.
- for absorption or occlusion
What are Transparent Films?
Clear, adhesive semipermeable membrane dressings.
What are Transparent Films permeable to?
Permeable:
- Oxygen, moisture vapor
Impermeable:
- Water
- Bacteria
- Environmental contaminants
Indications of Transparent Films?
- Stage 1 and 2 pressure ulcers
- Secondary dressing
- Promoting autolytic debridement
Advantages of using Transparent Films?
- Allows visual inspection
- Promotes autolytic debridement
- Minimize friction
Disadvantages of using Transparent Films?
- Non Absorptive
- not great for infected wounds
- Wounds with fragile surrounding skin
Considerations when using Transparent Films?
- Allow 1-2 inch margin around bed
- Avoid in wounds with infection, copious drainage, or tracts
What are hydrocolloids?
Gel-forming hydrophilic polymers on a semi occlusive film.
- absorbs exudate slowly and swell to a gel-like mass, helps maintain and ideal moist environment
Indications for use of Hydrocolloids?
- Protection of Partial Thickness wounds
- Autolytic Debridement
- Mild Exudate
What are Hydrogels?
Water or glycerine based gels.
- Available in solid sheets, gels, or impregnated gauze
Indications for Hydrogels?
- Partial and full thickness wounds
- Presence of necrosis and slough
Advantages to using Hydrogels?
- rehydrates dry wound beds
- promotes autolytic debridement
- can be used when infection is present
Disadvantages to Hydrocolloids?
Not recommended for:
- wounds with heavy exudate
- Fragile surrounding skin
- wounds with infections/tracts
- exposed bones/tendons
Disadvantages to Hydrogels?
- May require secondary dressing
- not used for wounds with heavy exudate
- may macerate surrounding skin
Considerations when using Hydrogels?
Using a barrier wipe on surrounding intact skin to prevent maceration
What are Foams?
Hydrophilic foam used to absorb drainage while maintaining an overall moist environment.
- Hydrophobic external side, impermeable to bacteria
Indications for using foams?
- Wounds with minimal to heavy exudate
- Secondary dressing for addition absorption
- Protection and insulation
Disadvantages for using foams?
- Nontransparent
- Nonadherent foams require secondary dressing
- Not for use with dry eschar or wounds with no exudate
Considerations when using foams?
Skin sealant on surrounding intact skin to prevent maceration
What are Alginates?
Calcium Alginates: non-woven fibers, that are absorbent and biodegradable; have addition hemostatic properties
- form a hydrophilic gel mass over the wound area
Indication for use of alginates?
- Moderate to large amounts of exudate
- Wounds with exudate and necrotic tissue
- wounds that need packing
Disadvantages for using alginates?
- Require secondary dressing
- not for dry or lightly exudating wounds
- can lead to a dry wound bed
What are gauze dressings?
Made of cotton or synthetic fibers that are absorptive and permeable to water and oxygen
Indications for using gauze?
- Exudative wounds
- Dead space, tunneling, sinus tracts
Advantages for using gauze?
- Readily available
- Cost effective
- Filler for large wounds
- Can be impregnated
- Infected or non-infected wounds
Disadvantages for using Gauze Dressing?
- Delayed healing (if used improperly)
- Requires Secondary Dressing
- Avoid direct contact with dranulating tissue
Considerations when using gauze?
- need adequate moisture of wound bed
- residual fibers left behind in wound can form granuloma.
