Wound Dressings

1
Wound Dressings

• by
• Vince Lepak, MPH, PT
• April 10, 2000

2
Ideal Dressing (Geoffrey Sussman, 1998)

• Maintain a moist environment while removing
  excessive exudate
• Allow gaseous exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide,
  and water vapor
• Insulating, maintain wound core temp 37 celcius
• Impermeable to microorganisms
• Toxin free and particulate free
• Non-traumatic to the wound bed

3
Additionally (Geoffrey Sussman, 1998)

• user friendly
• ease of application and removal
• simplify treatments
• cost effective
• minimal need for a secondary dressing
• will remain in place

4
Generic Dressing CategoriesClass I Medical
Devices (Rinne, 1999)

• Hydrocolloid
• Hydrogel
• Specialty Absorptive
• Tape
• Transparent Film
• Skin Sealant
• Specialty transparent film
• Wound cleanser
• Wound pouch

• Alginate
• Composite Dressing
• Contact layer
• Elastic bandage
• Elastic wrap
• Foam dressing
• Gauze
• impregnated
• non-impregnated

See attached handout for functions of these
product categories
5
Major Dressing Categories (Krasner, 1991)

• Gauze
• Non-adherent
• Transparent Films
• Hydrocolloids
• Hydrogels
• Exudate Absorbers
• Foams

See attached handout for actions, indications,
and examples of products
6
Gauzes
(Krasner, 1991)
7
Non-Adherent dressings
(Krasner, 1991)
8
Transparent films
(Krasner, 1991)
9
Hydrocolloids
(Krasner, 1991)
10
Hydrogels
(Krasner, 1991)
11
Exudate absorbers
(Krasner, 1991)
12
Foams
(Krasner, 1991)
13
Three Major Aspects to Consider in Choosing a
Dressing (Geoffrey Sussman, 1998)

• Color
• pink (epithelializing)
• red (granulating)
• yellow (sloughing)
• black (necrotic)
• Depth
• Exudate

14
Conclusion

• Develop a wound care product notebook
• Organize according to categories
• Include a coversheet explaining the product
  category, actions, indications, advantages,
  disadvantages, reimbursement rules, and examples
  of the various products.
• Include articles that support or refute the
  claims of the product
• Ask the manufacturer for supporting clinical
  studies.
• There are often several products that are
  effective for a particular wound.

15
References

• Bates-Jensen, B. M. (1998). Management of exudate
  and infection. In C. Sussman B. M. Bates-Jensen
  (Eds.), Wound care A collaborative practice
  manual for physical therapists and nurses (pp.
  159-177). Gaithersburg, MD Aspen.
• Krasner, D. (1991, July/August). Resolving the
  dressing dilemma Selecting wound dressings by
  category. Ostomy/Wound Management, 35, 38-43.
• Rinne, C. A. (1999, April). Wound product
  selection use Practical application.
  (Available from Southwest Missouri State
  University, Center for Continuing and
  Professional Education, 901 S. National Avenue,
  Springfield, MO 65804-0089)
• Sussman, G. (1998). Management of the wound
  environment. In C. Sussman B. M. Bates-Jensen
  (Eds.), Wound care A collaborative practice
  manual for physical therapists and nurses (pp.
  201-213). Gaithersburg, MD Aspen.