Surgical Technology: Dressing Supplies

Skin Closure

Dermabond

  • Topical Cyanoacrylate Skin Adhesive
    • Acts as a Superglue
  • Mechanism of Action:
    • An Acrylic Monomer – Polymerizes to Form a Strong Plastic Covering
    • Curing is Facilitated by Moisture in the Air, Heat & UV Light
      • “Fanning” Does Not Speed the Reaction
  • Dries After a Few Minutes
  • Peels Off After 1-2 Weeks

Steri-Strips

  • Act Similar to Butterfly Bandages
  • Assist with Skin Approximation
  • Curl & Peel Off After 1-2 Weeks

Dermabond

Steri-Strips

Gauze & Covering

Woven Gauze Sponges (“4×4 Gauze”)

  • Absorbent Gauze Sponge Used to Cover Wounds
  • Come in Two Sizes: 4″x4″ or 2″x2″

Non-Woven Gauze Sponges

  • Less Absorbent Than Woven Sponges
  • Often Seen as “Drain Sponges” with a Slit in the Middle to Go Around Tubes

ABD (Army Battle Dressing)

  • Highly Absorbent Dressing Pad
  • Used to Cover Large Wounds with High Drainage
  • *ABD Does Not Stand for Abdomen

Woven (4×4) Gauze

Non-Woven Gauze

ABD Dressing

Special Gauze/Dressings

Packing Gauze

  • Can Be Plain or Iodoform-Impregnated (Antibacterial)
  • Varying Sizes (1/4″, 1/2″ or 1″)
  • Used to Keep a Cavity Open to Allow Drainage

Xeroform Gauze

  • Yellow Gauze Dressing Impregnated with Petroleum & 3% Xeroform (Bismuth Tribromophenate)
  • Antibacterial Properties
  • Nonadherent – Does Not Stick to Wounds
  • Can Be Used to Create an Occlusive Dressing

Vaseline/Petroleum-Soaked Gauze

  • Gauze Dressing Impregnated with Vaseline
  • Nonadherent – Does Not Stick to Wounds
  • Can Be Used to Create an Occlusive Dressing

Adaptic

  • Nonadherent Dressing – Easy to Remove without Causing Trauma to Tissues
  • Knitted Cellulose Acetate Mesh Impregnated with a Petroleum Emulsion
  • Good to Protect Friable Tissues

Packing Gauze

Xeroform Gauze

Vaseline-Soaked Gauze

Adaptic

Rolls

Kerlix Gauze

  • Long Roll of Woven Gauze
  • Used for Packing Large Cavities & to Wrap Around for Extremity Dressings

Conform/Sof-Form Gauze

  • Micro-Weaved Gauze Rolls
  • Flexible & Comfortable with Less Lint

Cast Padding

  • Very Soft Cotton Rolls
  • Used to Provide Padding Under a Cast or Splint

Coban

  • Self-Adhering Wrap
  • Provides Compression
  • Used to Wrap Extremity Dressings

ACE Wrap

  • Elastic Cloth Bandage
  • Provides Compression
  • Used to Wrap Extremity Dressings

Kerlix Gauze

Conform Gauze

Cast Padding

Coban

ACE Wrap

Tape/Coverings

Paper Tape (Micropore/Tenderskin)

  • Less Traumatic to Skin
  • Less Adherent

Silicone Tape

  • Less Traumatic to Skin
  • Often Has a Blue Coloring

Plastic Tape (Transpore)

  • Strongly Adherent
  • More Traumatic to Skin

Durapore

  • Silk-Like Tape
  • Strongly Adherent
  • High Strength

Medipore

  • Soft Cloth Tape
  • Excellent Ability to Stretch & Allow Movement

Microfoam Tape

  • Excellent Ability to Stretch
  • Water-Resistant
  • Often Used for Chest Tube Dressings

Tegaderm

  • Transparent Film
  • Allows Continuous Monitoring of Underlying Site

Paper Tape (Micropore)

Silicone Tape

Plastic Tape (Transpore)

Durapore

Medipore

Microfoam Tape

Tegaderm

Preset Dressings

Band Aids

  • Classic Adhesive Bandage
  • Multiple Sizes & Shapes Available

Island Dressings (Telfa)

  • Gauze Dressing with Bordered Tape
  • Can Be Used for Light-Moderate Exudate
  • Multiple Sizes Available (2″x2″, 4″x4″, 4″x6″, 4″x8″, 4″x10″, 4″x14″, 6″x6″, 6″x8″)

Mepilex

  • Absorbent Foam Dressing
  • Generally Comes with a Premade Border (Mepilex is the Foam Itself)
  • Multiple Sizes Available (3″x3″, 4″x4″, 4″x8″, 4″x10″, 4″x12″, 6″x6″, 6″x8″)
  • Often Used for Pressure Sores

Band Aids

Island Dressings (Telfa)

Mepilex

Mepilex Border