Choosing a wound dressing: a systematic approach

Wound care presents a particular challenge in the critical care setting. Decisions about how to cleanse a wound and which dressing to use are often complicated by unexpected changes in the patient's condition, or the sudden occurrence of a wound infection. In this high-risk patient population, timely changes in topical therapy often can mean the difference between a wound that heals, or one that rapidly deteriorates. Much of the confusion over wound care and wound care products can be minimized by using a systematic approach to wound assessment. This chapter describes such an approach and summarizes local treatment options based on wound appearance.