PRODUCT INFORMATION GUIDE
Here at Prism Medical Products, LLC we realize the need for a greater understanding of wound care dressings. To make it easier for you we have included this product information guide, and some helpful links. If you have any further concerns or questions, please contact us.
Maximum Daily Dressing Change
Calcium Alginate/Hydrofiber Dressings are used for moderate to heavy exudating wounds and are derived from seaweed to absorb several times their own weight, forming a moist gel like cover. These dressing are available with or without silver, in sheets or rope (for packing) and always require a secondary dressing. Removal is achieved through wound irrigation.
Gauze not impregnated available with or without adhesive border; an absorbent island dressing with a protective air-permeable adhesive backing and may include a non-adherent absorbent pad.
Hydrogel Gel is used for no to low exudate to moisten and layer the wound, consisting of a water based, viscous, amorphous hydrogel. A secondary dressing is required. Hydrogel gel may be applied to the secondary dressing to ease application. Removal is achieved through wound irrigation.
Hydrogel Dressings are used for no to low exudate. Dressings are used to hydrate dry and desiccated wounds, using a combination of an amorphous hydrogel and an agar. These dressings provide a cooling sensation, useful in painful wounds and promote autolytic debridement. A secondary dressing is required. No removal necessary. The sheets are biodegradable and will deteriorate in the wound.
Non-adherent Dressings contain petroleum or silicone to prevent the dressing from adhering to the wound. These dressing are used in an attempt to alleviate the infliction of pain during removal on partial-thickness wound.
Multidex is a maltodextrin hydrophilic wound dressing used in nonhealing wounds to jump start healing by acting as a macrophage chemoattractant. This product controls odor and lowers the wound pH that discourage bacteria. It is available in a hydrogel or powder form, depending on the amount of wound exudate.
Collagen Dressings are used for non-healing wounds. They are made with collagen particles to absorb exudate and inhibit matrix matellaoproteases (MMPs), enhancing healing and tissue repair. These dressings are available with and without silver, and always require a secondary dressing.
Hydrogel Gauze is used for no to low exudate. It is gauze impregnated with an amorphous hydrogel, commonly used as a wound filler to hydrate dry deep or tunneling wounds. A secondary dressing is required. Remove the remaining gauze once the amorphous hydrogel is absorbed.
Packing Strips are used for no to moderate exudate. It is a ribbon-like gauze strip used for packing a cavernous wound. Some strips are impregnated with hydrogel or saline for no to low exudate. Some strips are dry and may include silver or iodine for moderate exudate. They are beneficial due to the ability to distribute topical medications and/or disinfectants within the wound. Packing strips are available in varying widths. An exudate-appropriate secondary dressing is required. Removing the strip packed into the wound tunnel provides the opportunity to remove detritus material.
Transparent Film is used for no to low exudates and maintains a moist environment. These dressings have an adhesive border and are gas permeable, allowing for the evaporation of some moisture while repelling dirt and debris. Being transparent allows the healing process to be monitored without disturbing the dressing. This is a 3 day to as needed dressing.
Maximum Every Other Day Dressing Change
Cadexomer Iodine contains iodine in the form of hydrophilic beads that absorb bacteria, enzymes and cellular residue to cleanse the wound. This is available in two products and forms: Iodoflex gel pad to absorb exudate and Iodosorb gel to supply hydration to dry or low exudative wounds. This is contradicted with people who have negative reactions to iodine, thyroid functions and impaired renal function. Remove when the dressing changes from a rust color to a yellow.
Charcoal Impregnated Dressings have an active layer of charcoal to absorb and trap odor.
Maximum 3 Times per week Dressing Change
Hydroferra Blue is a methylene blue coupled with gentian violet in a sponge form that absorbs exudate while providing bacteria and odor control. This dressing must be moistened with saline prior to application and requires a secondary dressing. Remove when the product changes from a blue/violet to white. This is a 3 day to as needed dressing.
Foam Dressings are highly absorbent dressings generally made from hydrophylic polyurethane foam. There are different absorption rates of the different foams on the market, best used for heavily exudating wounds.They wick exudate away from the wound while maintaining a moist wound bed and insulating or cushioning the wound area. They may come in a cavity form to pack cavernous wounds preventing premature healing or be used for offloading planter surface pressure, a practice not currently covered by insurance. These dressings are available with or without an adhesive border, and with or without silver. A secondary dressing is only required for foam dressing in cavity form or without a border. Remove at 80% saturation.
Hydrocolloid Dressings are used for low to moderate exudates wounds. They are a minimally absorptive, aggressively adhesive wafer that become gel like as drainage is absorbed. These dressings are available with varying thickness, easy-to-apply and provide a waterproof and impermeable barrier to bacteria and contaminates. They are not recommended for infected wounds. Remove by moistening the adherent edge with normal-saline moistened gauze.
Composite Dressings have multiple layers and may have an adhesive border that can be used as primary or secondary dressings. They are appropriate for wounds anywhere from minimal to heavy exudate, healthy granulation tissue, necrotic tissue, or a mixture of granulation and necrotic tissue. Most composite dressings have 3 layers (1) a semi-adherent or non-adherent layer (2) an absorptive layer and (3) a bacterial barrier layer .
Maximum 2 Times per Week Dressing Change
Static Compression is used for edema management. It is a paste bandage that stiffens after application. These wraps style bandages provide no active compression. It does assist in the calf muscle pump action. When inactive the only effect is to prevent excess fluid accumulation.
Dynamic Compression is used for edema management. It is an elastic bandage system. These systems provide continuous pressure while also assisting in the calf muscle pump action. They are available in 2-4 layer systems, including one layer of elastic roll bandage. Latex allergy should be assessed before determining which system to use.
Maximum 1 Time per Week Dressing Change
Contact Layers are single-layered sheets, either woven or non-woven materials and designed to protect fragile tissue in the wound bed. They can be perforated or permeable, allowing exudate to pass through into another dressing layer or into a secondary dressing. These dressings are usually very thin and non-adherent. Contact layer dressings should be used on clean wounds that are free of necrotic tissue and may be used with topical medications. In deep wounds, packing gauze may be needed to keep the contact layer dressing fitted to the wound bed; may be left in place up to 1 week with changes of secondary dressing as needed. Cannot be used with third-degree burns. It is not recommended for shallow or small-sized wounds, in the presence of viscous exudate or in wounds with tunneling or extensive undermining.
Gradient Compression Stockings are primarily used in the prevention of reoccurring venous ulcers by promoting engorged veins to return to a more normal shape and allowing the calf muscle to pump more efficiently. Compression stockings provide edema control by reducing or preventing swelling. These compression systems are available in classes according to the amount of compression provided. (Class I: 20-30mmHg currently non-covered by insurance, Class II 30-40mmHg, Class III 40-50mmHg and Class IIII 50-60mmHg) Compression stocking application should always occur immediately after waking. The life expectancy of a compression stocking is 2-4 months.
For more information regarding product knowledge, please visit the following sites;
Wound Care Information Network – Medicare Patients and frequently asked questions concerning coverage
Understanding Medicare Coverage for Wound Dressings
*Please visit our Products page select the appropriate product link to be directed to a manufacturer’s page.
*Please visit the Medicare page for Medicare guidelines on surgical supplies.
Disclaimer: The guidelines and information set forth on this page are for informational purposes. Prism Medical Products is not responsible for the accuracy of this information, nor do they assume any responsibility to any party that uses this information in any way.
