Medical packing strips are an important part of wound care. This article explores the uses and applications of packing strips for wound care, the types of wound packing materials available and cautions to consider when engaging in this type of procedure.
What Are Medical Packing Strips?
Packing strips for wound care are long, slender, continuous pieces of a fine-mesh, gauzy material intended to fill wounds that extend into the dermal layer, also known as cavity wounds.
Why Use Wound Packing Strips?
Cavity wounds and wounds with a sinus, tunnel or undermining with an unknown endpoint require medical packing. There are several purposes behind packing a wound. The primary goal is to loosely fill empty space, but packing is also crucial in assisting the healing process. Properly applied medical packing strips can prevent premature wound closure and the formation of abscesses by promoting granulation tissue growth in the wound bed.
When Are Medical Strips Contraindicated?
- Do not use wound packing materials for fistula management, which should be referred to the attending physician or nurse practitioner.
- Do not use packing strips for wound care if the undermining, sinus tracts or tunnels of a wound are deeper or more extensive than the reach of a 15-centimeter (6-inch) cotton-tipped applicator or probe. If the tunnel or undermining extends beyond this depth or you are unable to determine the depth of the cavity wound, medical packing is not recommended.
Types of Wound Packing Strips
As a versatile part of traditional wound care, packing strips are available in many forms. A secondary dressing or wound cover should always be part of the medical packing procedure.
- Plain Packing Strips – Sterile packing strips without impregnation are generally made from fine-mesh, cotton gauze and are compatible with wet-to-dry wound packing. Plain packing strips are available in various pre-cut sizes.
- Lodoform Packing Strips – Iodoform is an antimicrobial compound that is effective against common infectives like pseudomonas and E. coli. Iodoform-impregnated wound packing strips can support debridement and overall healing.
- More Medical Packing Strip Options – In addition to iodoform and plain packing strips, wound packing gauze is available infused with other antiseptic compounds, like polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), silver and alginate to help manage exudate and maintain a moist environment.
Cautions for Using Any Wound Packing Material
Best medical packing practices call for extreme caution when removing or changing a dressing. Leaving a piece of wound packing material behind can cause infection and seriously impede the healing process. Therefore, use only one continuous packing strip to fill the space whenever possible. If multiple wound packing strips are necessary to fill a cavity of more than 1 centimeter deep, carefully count and document the strips as they are inserted, then verify the number of strips as they are removed.
Resources:
https://www.clwk.ca/buddydrive/file/procedure-wound-packing/
https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB13813
https://www.woundsinternational.com/uploads/resources/content_11730.pdf
playstation 5 hdmi says
Å lese ditt essay var en sann glede for meg. Du var svært vellykket i å klargjøre emnet, og din skrivestil er både interessant og lett å forstå. Prinsippene var mye lettere å forstå etter å ha lest eksemplene du ga. Din ekspertise er sterkt verdsatt.
best dark roast coffee beans says
Great work on the article! Anybody interested in the subject should read it because of your extensive study and straightforward explanations. Your inclusion of examples and practical ideas is really appreciated. I appreciate you taking the time to share your wise words.
detroit tigers news today says
Your blog post was like a crash course in [topic]. I feel like I learned more in five minutes than I have in months of studying.
macbook hovedkortet says
For en flott historie! Jeg er så glad for at du delte den. Dataene du ga var både praktiske og enkle å forstå. Din evne til å forenkle ellers vanskelige ideer er sterkt verdsatt. Enhver som er interessert i å lære mer om dette emnet vil dra stor nytte av å lese dette.
macbook vannskade reparasjon says
Å lese ditt essay var en sann glede for meg. Du var svært vellykket i å klargjøre emnet, og din skrivestil er både interessant og lett å forstå. Prinsippene var mye lettere å forstå etter å ha lest eksemplene du ga. Din ekspertise er sterkt verdsatt.
backlink comments says
Reading this content was a true pleasure for me. Your explanations are to the point and the data is organized in a logical way. Your use of concrete instances to back up your claims is really appreciated. I appreciate you taking the time to share your wise words.
fix your house no upfront cost says
Great article! Your insights are very valuable, and the way you presented the information made it easy to understand. I appreciate the time and effort you put into researching and writing this. It’s a great resource for anyone interested in this topic.
탑플레이어머니상 says
탑플레이어포커머니상 365일 빠른 충환전 최저가 시세 보장 안심하고 게임하세요. 빠르고 안전한 머니 충환전 시스템으로 언제든지 편리하게 이용 가능합니다.
site like google adsense says
This post was really helpful and easy to follow. Reading your in-depth analyses and well-explained points is a delight. I found the samples you provided to be really useful. Your expertise is much appreciated.
minihints says
Site fantástico Muitas informações úteis aqui estou enviando para alguns amigos e também compartilhando deliciosos E claro obrigado pelo seu esforço