Wound dressing

Dressing	Features	Problems	Uses
Gauze	absorbs moisture, fills dead space, safe for infection, inexpensive	non-selective debridement, non-occlusive	secondary Dressing, heavy exudate, infection
Transparent Films	occlusive, autolytic debridement, retain moisture	macerative, not safe for infection, peri-wound damage	wound visualization
Hydrogels	autolytic debridement, add moisture, fills dead space, safe with infection	maceration, peri-wound damage, non-occlusive, must use secondary dressing, limited absorption	full and partial thickness, pressure ulcers, vascular ulcers, minor and radiation burns
Foams	non-adherent, autolytic debridement, adds moisture, abosorptive	maceration, not effective on dry eschar or no exudate, non-occlusive	primary and secondary, partial or full thickness, minimal to heavy exudate
Alginates	highly absorptive, non-adherent, autolytic debridement, fills dead space, safe with infection	non-occlusive, may dehydrate wound, not safe for dry eschar, 3rd degree burns, surgical implantation, and heavy bleeding, require secondary dressing	infection, tunneling and undermining, partial and full thickness wounds
Hydrocolloids	autolytic debridement, adds moisture, absorbs moisture, occlusive, impermeable to gases	not safe for infection, not safe for arteriol ulcers, odor and yellow drainage	primary and secondary dressing, partial and full thickness, necrosis, light to moderate exudate