Dressings provide a covering for wounds and aid the healing process by encasing the wound to allow the substances in body fluid to promote healing, according to "Schwartz's Principles of Surgery." Dressings also hold gauze or other material in place and apply pressure or support for a limb.
Gauze Sponges
"Fundamental and Advanced Nursing Skills" describe gauze sponges as general cotton gauze used for purposes of disinfecting skin, cleaning a wound, packing to clean a wound and covering a wound. Manufacturers typically produce gauze sponges in dimensions from 2-inch by 2-inch to 8-inch by 4-inch.
Fluff Cotton Gauze
Fluff cotton gauze is gauze with a loose weave of cotton to allow for maximum absorption of fluid. Fluff gauze absorbs the fluid from draining wounds. It possesses the ability to hold copious amounts of fluid in the weaves of the cotton and is available in a 4-inch by 4-inch size.
Rolled Gauze
A roll of woven gauze with a crinkle-weave pattern supplies long lengths of dressing to wrap areas such as arms and legs. The gauze may be used alone or to hold other dressings in place. The crinkle-weave pattern produces stretchiness to the material for easy wrapping of joints. Sizes of the rolls vary from 2.25-inches by 3-yards to 4.5-inches by 4.1-yards.
Telfa Dressing
"Wound Source" refers to Telfa pads as "ouchless" dressings because the material does not stick to the wound or skin. These dressings cover wounds with scant drainage. Telfa dressings range in size from 2-inch by 3-inch to 3-inch by 8-inch.
Xeroform Petrolatum Gauze
The Xeroform petrolatum gauze imbedded with white petrolatum provides an environment specifically for skin grafts or chest tube sites. The product provides a non-adhering surface to allow the graft site to heal. The manufacturer supplies the gauze in 1-inch by 8-inch, 2-inch by 2-inch, 4-inch by 4-inch and 5-inch by 9-inch sizes.
Transparent Film Dressing
Transparent film dressing looks similar to plastic film wrap used to store food, except the film dressing contains an adhesive backing. The transparent film covers skin tears and health care settings use the dressing to cover intravenous sites for easy visualization of the site. Film dressings range in size from 2-inch by 2.25-inch to 4-inch by 6.125-inch.
Hydrocolloid Dressing
Hydrocolloid dressings, made of starch, absorb liquid and form a gel. These dressings work well on wounds such as pressure sores producing low to medium amount of fluid. Unlike gauze dressings that require daily changing, hydrocolloids require replacement every three to five days. The hydrocolloid reduces pain and prevents the spread of infection. The hydrocolloid dressing comes in oval 2.75-inch by 3.5-inch to square 6-inch by 6-inch.
Alginate
Alginate dressing looks like angel hair, but actually is comprised of natural sugar fibers made from seaweed. Health care professionals use non-woven, non-adhesive alginate to pack or apply in irregular shaped wounds such as pressure sores, infected wounds or diabetic ulcers. Another dressing like gauze or hydrocolloid covers the alginate dressing.
References
- "Fundamental and Advanced Nursing Skills"; G. B. Altman, Ph.D. et al; 2010
- Wound Source: Alginate.
- "Schwartz's Principle of Surgery"; F. C. Brunicardi, M.D. et al.; 2010
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