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Sterile Dressings. objectives. To assess the wound by both inspection and palpation. To describe the types of wound closure and how to care of the sutures. To know the types of dressings To understand the goals of wound care. To know how to clean a wound.
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objectives • To assess the wound by both inspection and palpation. • To describe the types of wound closure and how to care of the sutures. • To know the types of dressings • To understand the goals of wound care. • To know how to clean a wound. • To know what is the purpose and types of wound dressings. • To learn how to change a wound dressing .
Wound Assessment in Stable Setting • Appearance: • Approximation – Are wound edges closed? Surgical incision should have clean well approximated edges • Is there exudate? • Is there skin discoloration? • Are wound edges inflamed and/or swollen?
Drainage • Amount – color – odor – consistency • Type: Classifications of drainage • Serous – clear, watery plasma • Purulent – thick, yellow, green, tan or brown (pus) • Sanguineous – bright red, indicates active bleeding (bloody) • Sero-sanguineous – pale, red, watery; mixture of serous and sanguineous
Wound Drains • Put in place to aid with drainage • Caution with dressing changes – so as not to accidentally remove drain • Types: • Penrose – oldest and was most widely used • Evacuator drainage (self-suction) exerts a constant low pressure • Hemovac • Jackson-Pratt
Wound Closures • Staples – cause less trauma and provide extra strength • Sutures – external & internal (internal dissolve on their own) • Steri strips – sterile butterfly tape applied along both sides of a wound to keep the edges closed * You must note any edema, irritation and tightness of closures
Suture Care • Sutures – removed usually 7 days post-op • Steri-strip – usually loosen after a few days and are removed easily • Staples – need staple remover
Assessing the Wound via Palpation Observe wound for: • Swelling • Separation of edges • Lightly palpate for localized area of tenderness or drainage • May need to culture drainage if present • Assess for pain
Example • D- day 6 post-op C-Section surgical incision assessed. Incision well approximated, staples intact with no inflammation, tenderness or exudate noted.
Document your assessments • b) c)
Sample for (b) • D: Gaping open wound to lower abdomen noted, approximately 10cm in length. Granulation tissue noted on wound bed and at wound edges. Small amount of purulent drainage noted, no odor present.
Goals of Wound Care • Preventing infection • Preventing further tissue injury • Promoting wound healing • Maintaining skin integrity • Regaining normal function • Gaining comfort
Cleaning Wounds • Gentle cleansing essential • Clean with normal saline (unlessotherwise ordered by physician)
Wound Dressings Purposes of dressings: • Protecting a wound from microorganisms • Aiding hemostasis –pressure dsg prevents bleeding & eliminates dead space (cavity within a wound) • Promoting healing by absorbing drainage and debriding a wound • Supporting or splinting a wound
Types of Dressings • Woven gauze dressings – cause little irritation & very absorbent (2x2, 4x4) • Wet to dry- used in treating wound that requires debridement • Nonadherent gauze dressings (telfa) – used over clean wounds • Self – adhesive– temporary, acts as a second skin, traps the wounds moisture (Acu-derm, Op-site, Tegaderm)
Hydrocolloid (HCD)– complex formulations of colloids, elastomeric and adhesive components (Biofilm, Duoderm, Restore, tegasorb) • The wound contact layer forms a gel as fluid is absorbed & maintains a moist healing environment • Occlusive & adhesive • Useful on shallow to moderately deep dermal ulcers
Hydrogel dressings – water or glycerin based (Nu-Gel, ClearSite, IntraSite) • Used on partial or full thickness wounds, deep wounds with exudate, necrotic wounds, burns and radiation burns • Are soothing, reducing pain in the wound • Debride the wound by softening necrotic tissue
Changing Dressings Must know: • Type of dressing • Presence of underlying drains or tubing • Type of supplies needed • Check physician order • Solution ordered • Frequency • Ointments ordered
Preparing a patient for Dressing Change • Administer pain medication prior to dressing change if needed • Describe to patient steps of procedure • Describe normal signs of healing • Answer any questions
Wound Care – Applying a Dry Dressing • Review medical orders for dressing change • Assess size & location of wound, type of dsg and presence of any drains • Review previous documentation • Assess patient’s comfort, knowledge • Assess Allergies
Technique for changing the dressing • Gather equipment & wash hands • Close door or curtain • Position patiient and drape • Put disposable bag within reach • Put on clean gloves • Remove dressing, pull tape toward suture line.
Continue, Observe appearance of dressing & wound Discard dressing and gloves Wash hands Open sterile dressing tray Open cleansing solution – pour on gauze Put on sterile gloves
Cleanse and dry wound Apply ointment if ordered Apply dry sterile dressings Secure dressing (date & time on tape) Remove gloves Assist patient into comfortable position
Basic Skin Cleansing Cleanse in a direction from the least contaminated area, such as from the wound or incision to the surrounding skin Use gentle friction when applying solutions When irrigating, allow the solution to flow from the least to the most contaminated area
Wound Irrigation Cleanses the wound from exudate and debris Use 100-150 ml NS Sterile technique Never occlude wound with the syringe Flow directly into the wound not over the contaminated area
Continue, Wound is less contaminated than the surrounding skin Never cleanse across an incision twice with the same gauze Drain – is highly contaminated – move from the incision area to the drain site
Packing a Wound • Assess the size, depth and shape of wound • Use appropriate material (as ordered by physician) • Use “sterile technique” • Don’t pack too tightly (may cause pressure on wound bed)
Securing Wounds May use: • Tape • Ties • Bandages • Secondary dressings • Cloth binders put over a simple dsg to provide extra protection & support • Depends on size, location, presence of drainage, frequency of changes and activity
Inspect dressing • Assess client’s tolerance of the procedure • Clean supplies and equipment • Wash hands • Document (appearance, size, drainage, cleaning solution, technique used, what was applied (in order), how secured, and how client tolerated procedure)
