Untangling Advanced Wound Care

As the advanced wound care market grows more robust, it can be tough to keep up with product claims and features. To help you out, we created the chart below as a quick reference guide below.

All of the dressings listed below should perform the following functions: remove excess exudates and toxic components; allow gaseous exchange; provide thermal insulation and protect against secondary infection. These dressings are often used with silver or other topical agents that limit infection and speed healing.1

Dressings at a glance 1,2

Alginate

Indications: Moderate to heavily draining wounds, partial- and full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers (Stages III and IV), dermal wounds, surgical incisions or dehisced wounds, sinus tracts, tunnels, cavity wounds, infected wounds

Features:

• Hydrophilic gel is produced when alginate comes in contact with wound exudate
• Can absorb up to 20 times its weight
• Does not adhere to wound

Collagen

Indications: Burns, grafts, any type of wound with light, moderate or heavy drainage

Features:

• Provides a moist healing environment
• Some reduce destructive elements in wound fluid
• Promote tissue granulation and epithelialization

Film

Indications: Superficial wounds with little exudate; commonly used as secondary dressings to attach a primary absorbent dressing

Features:

• Permeable to gases and water vapor, but impermeable to wound fluids
• Retain moisture and are impermeable to bacteria and other contaminants 
• Allow wound observation
• Do not require a secondary dressing

Foam

Indications: Partial-to full-thickness wounds with light to heavy exudate; frequently used under compression stockings to help treat venous leg ulcers

Features:

• Have small, open cells that hold fluids
• Permeable to water and gas
• Some have a waterproof top surface

Hydrocolloid

Indications: Stage I-IV pressure ulcers, partial- and full-thickness wounds, dermal ulcers, necrotic wounds

Features:

• Adhesive, absorbent and elastomeric components
• Form a gel upon contact with wound fluid
• Facilitate autolytic debridement
• Self-adhesive, mold well and minimize skin trauma and healing disruption
• Can be used under compression wraps
• Can be used as a preventive dressing for areas at high risk of friction

Hydrofiber

Indications: Moderate to heavily draining wounds, partial- or full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers (Stage III and IV), surgical wounds, donor sites, dehisced wounds, cavity wounds, wounds with sinus tracts or tunnels

Features:

• Maintain a moist wound environment by absorbing large amounts of exudates and forming a gel
• Secondary dressing is required

Hydrogel

Indications: Lightly to moderately draining wounds, necrotic wounds

Features:

• High water content provides moisture to the wound and rehydrate dry wound beds
• Cooling and soothing
• Reduce pain

Your ProMed territory manager is ready to introduce you to ProMed's comprehensive basic and advanced wound care products. To learn more, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

References
1 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Technology assessment on negative pressure wound therapy devices. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/negative-pressure-wound-therapy/background.html. Accessed May 13, 2014.

2 Lippincott’s Nursing Center. Wound & Skin Care: Choosing a wound dressing, part 2. Available at: http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/journalarticle?Article_ID=770292. Accessed May 13, 2014.