What is the purpose of a bandage or dressing?
The main purpose of a bandage or wound dressing is to
protect the sore or wound it covers. Many wounds do not need
bandages and are left open to the air.
How often should a bandage be
changed?
That is up to the doctor and nurse. Normally, the
bandage is changed if it is not doing what it should do,
which is to protect the wound. For example, if the wound is
leaking
blood or other drainage, it may be best to change the
dressing so the leaking blood or drainage does not harm the
wound. However, that is not always the case and some
dressings will not be changed even if stained with blood or
other drainage. Ask the doctor or nurse about the specific
wound dressing, if you have questions.
Are there different types of
dressings?
Yes. Some dressings, or bandages, are transparent and others
are not. The clear dressing shown in the lower picture is
placed over the entry site of a pulmonary artery catheter.
Other dressings, especially those placed on IV lines, are
often clear. This transparency helps the nurses and doctors
examine the area without removing the bandage.
How long is a dressing used?
When a dressing is used over a wound, it is kept in place
until sufficient wound healing has occurred. A wound
normally heals from the outside inward, which prevents germs
from entering the wound. This actually happens quite fast in
most cases. A clear dressing is usually kept over the entry
site of a catheter until the catheter is removed.
|
|
 |
|
Bandage or dressing |
|
 |
|
Clear dressing over entry site of a
pulmonary artery catheter |
|
|
Bandage or Wound Dressing 
