Question

The advantages and disadvantages of different types of wound care products used for pressure injuries including: hydrocolloid, Hydrogel, Alginate, Hydrofiber, Antimicrobial, Transparent films, Foams, Collagens, Negative pressure, Composites, and Contact Layers.

Answer 1

1.   Hydrocolloid
Advantages-
•   Do not stick to wounds.
•   Impermeable to bacteria and dust particle
•   Flexible to motion
•   Can be mold around in effected area
•   Last longer than other types of dressing
•   Need to change dressing in once in 3 days
                  Disadvantages-
•   Difficult to assess the wound
•   Dressing adhere to wound sometimes leads to trauma to wounds
•   May cause hyper granulation of wounds
•   In diabetes patients the use of this dressing is risky.
2.   Hydrogel
       Advantages-
•   When applied to dry as well ad in necrotic wounds they keep clean by the process of autolysis.
•   Keeps the wound warm and moist
•   Do not adhere to wounds
•   Do not irritates the tissues
•   Do not cause pain while removing
                   Disadvantages-
•   Can not absorb large amount of fluid
•   Not good effective in large wet wounds
•   Easily tears and difficult to change dressing.
3.   Alginate
     Advantages-
•   Protects the area from bacterial infections
•   Promotes quick healing
•   Absorbs large amount of water
•   Easy to apply
         Disadvantages-
•   Not suitable in heavy bleeding, surgical implantations and in third degree burns.

4.   Hydrofiber
   Advantages-
•   Less risk of maceration
•   Provides proper drainage
•   Will not cause trauma to wound while removing
•   Autolytic debridement
             Disadvantages-
•   Secondary d4essing is needed to secure
•   Not comfortable with oil based products
5.   Antimicrobial
Advantages-
•   Reduces risk of infection
             Disadvantages-
•   Need secondary dressing
•   Not suitable in patients sensitive to iodine
6.   Transparent films
Advantages-
•   Protects from mechanical trauma
•   Autolytic debridement
•   Promotes healing
•   Flexible
           Disadvantages-
•   Do not absorbs moisture
•   Sticks to wounds
•   Can cause periwound maceration.

7.   Foams
      Advantages-
•   Maintain moistureness
•   Provides thermal insulation to wounds
                Disadvantages-
•   Dryness of skin
•   Not used in third degree burns
•   Not used in sinus wounds
8.   Collagens
Advantages-
•   Boosts tissue growth
•   Promotes healing
•   Can be used in burns
•   Removes scar marks
                Disadvantages-
•   Permeable to bacteria thus causes infection
9.   Negative pressure
    Advantages-
•   Better healing
•   Fewer wound infections
              Disadvantages-
•   Painful
10.   Composites
    Advantages-
•   Conformable and easily available
•   Promotes autolytic debridement
•   Easy to apply and remove
            Disadvantages-
•   Contraindicated in stage four pressure ulcers
•   Adhesive borders
11.   Contact layers
Advantages
•   Highly conformable
•   Mainly in delicate area of skin
          Disadvantages
•   Not used in draining wounds
•   Not absorbs exudates.