1. Medical uses

2. Types
     Passive products   Interactive products  Bioactive products 

3. Usage of dressings

4. See also

5. References

A dressing is a sterile pad or compress^[1] applied to a wound to promote healing and protect the wound from further harm. A dressing is designed to be in direct contact with the wound, as distinguished from a bandage, which is most often used to hold a dressing in place. Many modern dressings are self-adhesive.

Medical uses

A dressing can have a number of purposes, depending on the type, severity and position of the wound, although all purposes are focused towards promoting recovery and protecting from further harm. Key purposes of a dressing are:

• Stem bleeding – to help to seal the wound to expedite the clotting process;
• Protection from infection – to defend the wound against germs and mechanical damage;
• Absorb exudate – to soak up blood, plasma, and other fluids exuded from the wound, containing it/them in one place and preventing maceration;
• Ease pain – either by a medicated analgesic effect, compression or simply preventing pain from further trauma;
• Debride the wound – to remove slough and foreign objects from the wound to expedite healing;
• Reduce psychological stress – to obscure a healing wound from the view of the patient and others.

Ultimately, the aim of a dressing is to promote healing of the wound by providing a sterile, breathable and moist environment that facilitates granulation and epithelialization. This will then reduce the risk of infection, help the wound heal more quickly, and reduce scarring.^[2]

Types

Historically, dressings were made of a piece of material, usually a cloth, but the use of cobwebs, dung, leaves and honey have also been described.

However, modern dressings^[3] include dry or impregnated gauze, plastic films, gels, foams, hydrocolloids, alginates, hydrogels, and polysaccharide pastes, granules and beads. They all provide different physical environments suited to different wounds:

• Absorption of exudate, to regulate the moisture level surrounding the wound- for example, dry gauzes absorb exudate strongly, drying the wound, hydrocolloids maintain a moist environment and film dressings do not absorb exudate;
• Gas permeability and exchange, especially with regard to oxygen and water vapour;
• Maintaining the optimum temperature to encourage healing;
• Mechanically debriding a wound to remove slough.
• Pressure dressings are commonly used to treat burns and after skin grafts. They apply pressure and prevent fluids from collecting in the tissue.^[4]

Dressings can also regulate the chemical environment of a wound, usually with the aim of preventing infection by the impregnation of topical antiseptic chemicals. Commonly used antiseptics include povidone-iodine, boracic lint dressings or historically castor oil.^[5] Antibiotics are also often used with dressings to prevent bacterial infection. Medical grade honey is another antiseptic option, and there is moderate evidence that honey dressings are more effective than common antiseptic and gauze for healing infected post-operative wounds.^[6] Bioelectric dressings can be effective in attacking certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria^[7] and speeding up the healing process.^[8]

Dressings are also often impregnated with analgesics to reduce pain.

The physical features of a dressing can impact the efficacy of such topical medications. Occlusive dressings, made from substances impervious to moisture such as plastic or latex, can be used to increase their rate of absorption into the skin.

Dressings are usually secured with adhesive tape and/or a bandage. Many dressings today are produced as an "island" surrounded by an adhesive backing, ready for immediate application – these are known as island dressings.

Passive products

Generally, these products are indicated for only superifical, clean, and dry wounds with minimal exudates. They can also be used as secondary dressings (additional dressings to secure the primary dressing in place or to absorb additional discharge from the wound). Examples are: Gauze, lint, adhesive bandage (plasters), and cotton wool. The main aim is to protect the wound from bacterial contamination. They are also used for secondary dressing. Gauze dressing is made up of woven or non-woven fibres of cotton, rayon, and polyester. Gauze dressing are capable of absorbing discharge from wound but requires frequent changing. Excessive wound discharge would cause the gauze to adhere to the wound, thus causes pain when trying to remove the gauze from the wound. Bandages are made up of cotton wool, cellulose, or polyamide materials. Cotton bandages can act as a secondary dressing while compression bandages provides good compressions for venous ulcers. On the other hand, tulle gras dressing which is impregnated with paraffin oil is indicated for superficial clean wound.^[9]

Interactive products

Several types of interactive products are: semi-permeable film dressings, semi-permeable foam dressings, hydrogel dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, and alginate dressings. Apart from preventing bacteria contamination of the wound, they keep the wound environment moist in order to promote healing.^[9]

Bioactive products

Advancements in understanding of wounds have commanded biomedical innovations in the treatment of acute, chronic, and other types of wounds. Many biologics, skin substitutes, biomembranes and scaffolds have been developed to facilitate wound healing through various mechanisms.^[10]

Usage of dressings

Applying a dressing is a first aid skill, although many people undertake the practice with no training – especially on minor wounds. Modern dressings will almost all come in a prepackaged sterile wrapping, date coded to ensure sterility. Sterility is necessary to prevent infection from pathogens resident within the dressing.

Historically, and still the case in many less developed areas and in an emergency, dressings are often improvised as needed. This can consist of anything, including clothing or spare material, which will fulfill some of the basic tenets of a dressing – usually stemming bleeding and absorbing exudate.

Applying and changing dressings is one common task in nursing.

See also

• History of wound care#Wound-site dressing
• Hydrocolloid dressing
• Hydrogel dressing
• Field dressing (bandage)

References

• McHugh, Thomas
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• MCI
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• MCI bankruptcy
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• MCIF Miniature Card
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• MCIIS Press
• McIlhargey
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