Wound Care-Types of Dressings Latest Update Rated A+

Wound Care-Types of Dressings Latest Update Rated A+ Primary dressing type of dressing that comes into direct contact w/ a wound Secondary dressing placed directly over primary dressing to provide additional protection, absorption, occlusion, and/or to secure primary dressing in place Hydrocolloids gel-forming polymers that adhere to the intact surrounding skin, useful for partial & full thickness wounds. Advantages: provides moist environment, enables autolytic debridement, protects against microbial contamination, moderate absorption, waterproof surface Disadvantages: cannot be used on infected wounds, may traumatize intact skin on removal, may tend to roll in areas of excessive friction Hydrogels varying amounts of water & gel forming materials, typically available in both sheet & amorphous forms, moisture retentive & commonly used on superficial or partial- thickness wounds w/ minimal drainage, good coupling agent for ultrasound, can't be used on wounds w/ significant drainage Foam dressings hydrophilic polyurethane base with hydrophobic outer layer, provide protection & absorption over partial & full thickness wounds w/ varying levels of exudate, lack of transparency makes inspection difficult. Transparent film thin membranes made from transparent polyurethane w/ water resistant adhesives, laregely impermeable to bacteria & water, useful for superficial or partial thickness wounds w/ minimal drainage, cannot be used on infected wounds Gauze most readily available dressing, may be impregnated with antimicrobials, can be used for wet-to-wet, wet-to-moist, or wet-to-dry debridement. Cost effective short term dressings, can be used on both infected & non-infected wounds, but highly permeable, increased infection rate compared to occlusive dressings, requires frequent dressing changes Alginates derived from seaweed extraction, highly absorptive but also highly permeable, good on partial or full thickness draining wounds such as pressure/venous insufficiency ulcers, non-adhering to wound, cannot be used on wounds