Advanced

Wound Dressing
Choosing the right dressing
material
Dressing
- a sterile covering applied into or
over the wound or incision using aseptic
technique, it may be applied with or
without medication
 Purpose of Dressing
❖To promote wound healing and granulation
❖Protects wound from :
- trauma
- microbial contamination
❖Reduces pain
❖Maintains temperature and moisture of wound
❖Absorbs drainage and debride wound
❖Controls and prevents hemorrhage(pressure
dressing)
❖Provide psychological comfort
DRESSING CATEGORIES
• Traditional
- spider web (1346 AD)
- poultices
- leaves and herbs
- honey
• Conventional
• Advanced Dressing
- it could be expensive
- it can be left in situ for several days
What makes an ideal dressing?
✓ Removes excess exudate
✓ Maintain moist wound healing
✓ Allows gaseous exchange if appropriate
✓ Provide barrier to pathogens
✓ Provide thermal insulation
✓ Waterproof
✓ Trauma protection
✓ Non adherent
✓ Minimal pain during dressing change
✓ Safe and easy to use
Problem with some dressings
• Adherence to wound bed
• Dehydration of wound
• Fiber shed
• Strikethrough
 Advanced Dressings
• Films
• Hydrogels
• Hydrocolloids
• Alginates
• Foams
• Charcoals
• Silver
• Polymer
• Collagen
• Iodine based dressings
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages

Protects against Adherent Fluid collection

Films contamination and
friction

Maintains moist Bacterial barrier Possibility of

susrface tripping away newly
formed epithelium

Prevents Water proof and

evaporation and breathable
facilitate
assessment
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Rehydrates, Comfortable, A secondary
Hydrogel debrides and provides moist dressing is needed
deslough wound environment and
reduces pain
Promotes moist Rehydrate eschar Maceration around
healing the wound
Cavity filling Desloughing agent

Promotes
granulation
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Hydrocolloids Provides moist Cleans and debride Unpleasant odor,
environment by autolysis forms a yellow
liquid gel

Absorbs exudates Easy to use and cost Difficult to use in

effective cavities
Bacterial barrier Promotes Adhesive action
granulation tissue damages fragile
skin
Effective for low to
moderate exuding
wound
waterproof
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Calcium Absorbs wound Economical and Not helpful for dry
exudate and easy to apply wound
alginate maintains moisture
Biodegradeable Need secondary
Hemostatic
properties
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Hydrofibre Manage heavy Longer wear time Costly
exuding wounds
Maintain moist Comfortable Not helpful for dry
healing Non traumatic upon wound
environment removal
Autolytic Reduce the risk of Needs secondary
debridement maceration dressing
Can be used for
infected wound
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Absorbent Conforms to the Can adhere to
Foam body contours wound if exudate
dries
Cushioning Designed for cavity
wounds
Highly absorbent
provides protection
Bacterial and water
proof
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Odor absorbent Reduces odor Needs secondary
Charcoal dressing
Bactericidal
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Silver dressing For infected Antimicrobial, no Silver toxicity
wounds resistance
WOUND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Dressings Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Stimulates tissue Non-adherent costly
Collagen growth on wound
dressing bed
Reduced risk of Needs secondary
infection dressing
Assessment of the wound for dressing
✓ Necrosis
✓ Infection
✓ Slough
✓ Granulation
✓ Epitheliazation
✓ Depth
✓ Exudate
✓ Malodor
What is your choice of
dressing?