SUTURE MATERIALSSUTURE MATERIALS

Dr. Hiwa Omer AhmedDr. Hiwa Omer AhmedAssistant Professor in generalAssistant Professor in generalsurgerysurgery

WOUND DRESSINGSWOUND DRESSINGS

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During the past decade, dressings for acute and chronicDuring the past decade, dressings for acute and chronicwounds havewounds havechanged dramatically. As new material technologies havechanged dramatically. As new material technologies haveevolved, newevolved, newproducts have inundated the market. Dressing productsproducts have inundated the market. Dressing productsshould be selectedshould be selectedon the basis of the type and characteristics of the wound.on the basis of the type and characteristics of the wound. The acute wound that is closed primarily requires coverage The acute wound that is closed primarily requires coveragewith a drywith a drysterile dressing for a few days. This helps to protect thesterile dressing for a few days. This helps to protect thewound fromwound frombacterial invasion and absorbs any wound fluid. The dressingbacterial invasion and absorbs any wound fluid. The dressingalso mayalso mayprovide some psychological benefit to the patient in keepingprovide some psychological benefit to the patient in keepingthe surgicalthe surgicalwound out of sight. When epithelialization is complete, thewound out of sight. When epithelialization is complete, thedressing can bedressing can beremoved.removed.

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Partial-thickness wounds—e.g., donor sites, abrasions, first-Partial-thickness wounds—e.g., donor sites, abrasions, first-and second-and second-degree burns—require semiocclusive dressings. Thesedegree burns—require semiocclusive dressings. Theseproducts provide aproducts provide amoist environment that enhances the reepithelialization of moist environment that enhances the reepithelialization of partial-thicknesspartial-thicknesswounds. If a semiocclusive dressing is applied early to awounds. If a semiocclusive dressing is applied early to apartial-thicknesspartial-thicknesswound, dry scab formation can be avoided. Scab formationwound, dry scab formation can be avoided. Scab formationcan damage thecan damage theunderlying dermis, and removal of the scab may be painful,underlying dermis, and removal of the scab may be painful,cause bleeding,cause bleeding,damage new epithelium, and increase the deformity in thedamage new epithelium, and increase the deformity in thefinal scar.final scar.Semiocclusive dressings may not have enough absorptionSemiocclusive dressings may not have enough absorptioncapacity tocapacity tohandle the amount of wound exudate produced in the earlyhandle the amount of wound exudate produced in the earlyphase of phase of healing. Wound fluid can become trapped and cause the areahealing. Wound fluid can become trapped and cause the areaaround thearound thewound to macerate or leak, necessitating frequent dressingwound to macerate or leak, necessitating frequent dressingchanges.changes.Combining an absorbent dressing material, such as anCombining an absorbent dressing material, such as analginate, with thealginate, with thepolyurethane film or hydrocolloid alleviates this problempolyurethane film or hydrocolloid alleviates this problem