wound dressing

Introduction

The material applied to a wound for the protection of the wound & absorbance of drainage.

Alginate Dressing.

• A nonwoven absorptive dressing manufactured from seaweed.

Film Dressing. (polyurethane)

• A clear, adherent, nonabsorptive, polymer-based dressing that is permeable to oxygen & water vapor but not to water.

Foam Dressing. (polyurethane)

• A spongelike polymer dressing that may or may not be adherent; it may be impregnated or coated with other materials & has some absorptive properties.

Gel fiber dressing

• polyvinyl alcohol gel fiber dressing (Exufiber)
• carboxymethylcellulose fiber dressing
• chronic & cavity wounds

Gauze Dressing.

• A cotton or synthetic fabric dressing that is absorptive & permeable to water, water vapor, & oxygen. This dressing may be impregnated with petrolatum, antiseptics, or other agents.

• Wet-to-Dry Saline Gauze.
  • A dressing technique in which gauze moistened with normal saline is applied wet to the wound & removed once the gauze becomes dry & adheres to the wound bed. The goal is to debride the wound as the dressing is removed.

• Continuously Moist Saline Gauze.
  • A dressing technique in which gauze moistened with normal saline is applied to the wound & remoistened frequently enough so it will remain moist. The goal is to maintain a continuously moist wound environment.

Hydrocolloid Dressing.

• An adhesive, moldable wafer made of a carbohydrate-based material, usually with a waterproof backing. This dressing usually is impermeable to oxygen, water, & water vapor & has some absorptive properties.

Hydrogel Dressing.

• A water-based, nonadherent, polymer-based dressing that has some absorptive properties.

Pastes/Powders/Beads.

• Agents formulated primarily to fill wound cavities that may have some absorptive properties.

Silver sulfadiazine (ionic silver dressing)

• infected wound

Medi honey

More specific terms

• absorptive wound filler
• alginate dressing
• clean dressing
• Coban self adherent wrap
• collagen-based dressing
• cordran tape
• Curosol gel
• EDX110 (nitric oxide-generating)
• film dressing; transparent film dressing; barrier film
• foam dressing; polyurethane foam dressing
• gauze
• gel fiber dressing
• hydrocolloid dressing; wafer dressing
• hydrogel dressing
• Restore wound dressing
• silver dressing
• steri-strip
• Topiclude
• Unna's boot (Gelocast)

Additional terms

• lesion
• wound
• wound care