COMMON WOUND DRESSING CATEGORIES

Category

Description

Indications

Side Effects

Examples

Requires secondary cover dressing

• Absorption in full-thickness wounds with moderate to heavy exudate
• Autolytic debridement of yellow slough in deep wounds with uneven wound beds
• Odor control
• Hydrophillic cleansing action and reduction of surface bacteria

• Will desiccate wound and cause further damage if exudate is minimal
• Some products may be difficulty to remove if wound is deep with tunneling

Requires secondary cover dressing to secure

• Absorption of heavy to moderate wound exudate in superficial and deep wounds
• Autolytic debridement of yellow slough
• Infected wounds (after appropriate intervention and with close monitoring of wound progress)
• "Filler" for deep or tunneling wound (rope form)
• Hemostasis

• May contribute to wound desiccation of wound exudate is minimal and gel dries (saturate with saline to soften)
• Contraindicated for use on third-degree burns
• Limited hemostatic properties

Some products require tape of secondary cover dressing to secure

• Absorption of moderate to heavy exudate in superficial and deep wounds
• Protection of friable peri-wound skin (nonadhesvie pads)
• Infected wounds (after appropriate intervention and with close monitoring of wound progress)
• Autolytic debridement of yellow slough
• Padding of tracheostomy sites
• Padding and protection of high trauma areas (pretibial area, forearms, etc.)

• May promote wound dehydration and desiccation if exudate is minimal
• Contraindicated for sinus tracts

• Protection of surgical wounds
• Mechanical debridement of yellow slough (wet-to-dry gauze)
• Autolytic debridement (saline-moistened gauze)
• Absorption of minimal to heavy exudate in superficial and deep wounds
• "Filler" for packing dead space in large, deep wound cavities
• Infected wounds (moistened or impregnated with topical antimicrobials)

• May adhere to healthy tissue and cause injury on removal
• Some products may shed, leaving lint in wound

KERLIX Super Sponge

KLING gauze rolls

NUGAUZE packing strips

• Autolytic debridement of minimal to moderate amount of yellow slough
• Protection of high-friction areas
• Protection from exogenous contamination (excellent barrier function)
• Absorption of minimal to moderate exudate in superficial and shallow full-thickness wounds
• Fibrinolytic activity (venous leg ulcers)

• Occlusive properties can promote infection in high-risk patients (especially anaerobic infection)
• Contraindicated for third-degree burns
• May promote hypertrophic granulation tissue
• Some products leave residue in wound on removal
• Some products have an unpleasant odor on dressing removal

Require secondary cover dressing to secure

• Absorption of minimal to moderate exudate in superfical and deep wounds
• Autolytic debridement of yellow slough and softening of black eschar
• Pain relief in radiation-damaged tissue and superficial burns
• Ultrasound treatments
• Gel forms can be used as filler for deep wounds

• Not indicated for heavily exuding wounds
• May contribute to periwound maceration
• May promote growth of yeast

• Protection of high-friction areas (heels, beneath restraints, Stage 1, etc.)
• Autolytic debridement of yellow slough in shallow wounds
• IV sites
• Covering dressing for fillers and other, more absorptive dressing materials

• Not recommended for wounds with moderate or heavy exudate
• May cause skin tears or adhesive stripping of peri-wound skin
• Contributes to peri-wound maceration and yeast colonization if exudate collects
• Contraindicated in infected wound