Type Of Dressing |
Dressing Name Examples |
About This Dressing |
Type Of Wound Used For |
Foam Dressing
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Allevyn (Smith & Nephew), Biatain (Coloplast), Mepilex/Mepilex Border (Molnlycke), Tegaderm foam(3M) |
- Cost effective - can be left in place for up to 7 days
- Promotes a moist wound environment
- Highly absorbent
- Can be used with topical agents
- Comes in a variety of sizes and shapes
- Does NOT provide "padding" for skin
- Mepilex/ Mepilex border Silicone layer keeps exudate off the wound and periwound skin surface reducing maceration
|
- Heavily Exudating
- Pressure Ulcer
- Surgical
- Venous Leg Ulcer
- Neuropathic/ Diabetic Ulcer
- Burn
- Donor Site
- Fungating/ Malignant
|
Calcium Alginate and Hydrofibre*
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Aquacel/Ribbon (ConvaTec); also a hydrofibre dressing*, Kaltostat (ConvaTec)** |
- Can be left on until saturated which depends on wound drainage
- Promotes a moist wound environment
- Interacts with exudate to form a gel*
- Useful for packing wounds
- Always requires a secondary dressing
- Haemostatic
|
- Moderate/Heavy Exudating wound
- Pressure Ulcer
- Surgical
|
Hydrocolloid
|
Tegasorb (3M) |
- Cost effective – worn up to 7 days
- Promotes a moist wound environment
- Promotes autolytic debridement
- Waterproof and occlusive, which prevents bacterial contamination
|
- Low Exudating
- Pressure Ulcer
- Venous Leg Ulcer
- First/Second Degree Burn
- Donor Site
- Dry
- Superficial
|
Hydrogel
|
DuoDerm Gel (ConvaTec), Intrasite Gel (Smith and Nephew) |
- Easily removed from wound by irrigation with normal saline/sterile water
- Increases moisture, preventing eschar formation
- In dry wounds can be mixed with Iodosorb and Flagyl
- Promotes autolytic debridement without damaging fragile granulating tissue
- Secondary dressing is required
|
- Pressure Ulcer
- Surgical
- Venous Leg Ulcer
- Burn
- Malignant
- Dry
- Partial Thickness
- Laceration
- Necrotic
|
Antimicrobial Dressings/Topical Antimicrobial Preparations
|
Acticoat (Smith and Nephew), Tegasorb Silver (3M), Actisorb Silver (Johnson & Johnson), MepilexAg (Molnlycke),
Flamazine (Smith and Nephew), Iodosorb (Smith and Nephew),
Medihoney (Derma Science),
Mesalt (Molnlycke), Polysporin,
Triact silver contact layer (Hollister Wound Care)
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Skin Protectant
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No Sting Barrier (3M), Proshield (Healthpoint) |
- Provides 24 hour incontinence protection
- Periwound skin protectant
- Reduces friction and shear
- Does not require a cover dressing
|
- Protects intact or damaged skin from bodily fluids, adhesives, and friction
- Proshield can be used up to and including Stage ll pressure ulcers and fungating wounds
|
Soft Silicone Dressing
|
Mepitel (Molnlycke) |
- Minimizes maceration
- Prevents the cover/secondary dressing from sticking to the wound, minimizing trauma and pain at dressing change
- Can remain intact for up to 7 days (change cover dressing only as needed)
|
- Second degree burn and chronic wound
- Skin Tear
- Abrasion
- Painful wounds and wounds with compromised surrounding skin
|
Self Adherent Absorbent Dressing
|
Alldress (Molnlycke), Island Dressing such as Medipore (3M) and Tegaderm (3M) |
- Provides a moist wound environment
- Absorbs exudate
- Primary dressing for clean wounds where a barrier is needed
- Secondary dressing for open wounds, for example antimicrobial dressings or calcium alginate/ hydrofiber
- All in one sterile dressings to be used as a primary or secondary dressing
- A combination of a non-adherent pad covered with a waterproof, transparent backing on a soft cloth conformable cover
|
- Low Exudating
- Pressure Ulcer
- Venous Leg Ulcer
- First/Second Degree Burn
- Donor Site
- Dry
- Superficial
- Infected wound
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