Surgical Supplies and Dressings Overview

Surgical Supplies by Pharmacist

• A pharmacist's role in surgical supplies involves providing instruments, sutures, surgical dressings, and equipment used before, during, and after surgery.
• Pharmacists must have the ability to select the right instruments to ensure patient safety and well-being during the surgical procedure.

Surgical Dressings

• Surgical dressings are materials used to cover wounds, injured or diseased tissues, promoting healing and safety.
• Key properties of surgical dressings include:
  • Creating a moist environment
  • Preventing maceration of exudative wounds
  • Protecting from dehydration, mechanical or chemical damage, microbial invasion, and pH alteration
  • Facilitating healing
  • Providing support
  • Reducing overall costs

Types of Surgical Dressings

• Surgical dressings are classified based on:
  • Degree of exudation
  • Presence or likelihood of infection
  • Presence of necrotic tissue
  • Anatomical sites
• Types of surgical dressings include:
  • Primary wound dressings
  • Secondary wound dressings
  • Adhesive tapes

Primary Wound Dressings

• Primary dressings are applied directly to the wound.
• They provide:
  • Absorptive capacity
  • Prevention of desiccation
  • Protection from infection
  • Prevention of secondary dressing adhesion to the wound
• Types of primary wound dressings:
  • Plain gauze
  • Impregnated gauze
  • Film dressings

Plain Gauze

• Used for exudative, infected, and necrotic wounds.
• Can stick to the wound, making removal painful.

Impregnated Gauze

• Impregnated with substances to reduce adherence to wounds.

Film Dressings

• Transparent, occlusive, or semi-occlusive.
• Made of polyurethane with acrylic or polyether adhesives.
• Suitable for exuding wounds.
• Disadvantage: Can wrinkle, creating entry points for microbes.

Secondary Wound Dressings

• Placed over primary dressings to provide additional protection, absorbency, compression, or occlusion.
• Types of secondary wound dressings:
  • Absorbents
  • Bandages
  • Adhesive tapes

Absorbents

• Subtypes:
  • Nonabsorbent unbleached cotton
  • Nonabsorbent bleached cotton
  • Absorbent cotton
  • Rayon
  • Surgical gauze
  • Film-coated gauze
  • Nonwoven surgical sponges
  • Medicated surgical gauze
  • Selvage-edge gauze strips
  • Gauze pads or sponges
  • X-ray detectable gauze pads
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Disposable under pads
  • Disposable cleaners
  • Eye pads
  • Nursing pads

Bandages

• Subtypes:
  • Gauze roller bandages
  • Muslin bandage rolls
  • Elastic bandages
  • Woven elastic bandages
  • Crepe bandages
  • High bulk bandages
  • Triangular bandages
  • Orthopedic bandages

Adhesive Tapes

• Subtypes:
  • Acrylate adhesives
  • Rubber-based adhesives

Combined Primary-Secondary Wound Dressings

• These dressings combine primary and secondary dressing functions.
• Types:
  • Hydrogels
  • Hydrocolloid dressings
  • Calcium alginate dressings
  • Protective products for adhesion prevention

Hydrocolloid Dressings

• These dressings are opaque or transparent.
• They are biodegradable, breathable, and adhere to the skin, eliminating the need for separate taping.
• The dressing's surface is coated with a cross-linked adhesive containing gelatin, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose, polymers, and adhesives.
• When in contact with wound exudate, the polysaccharides and polymers absorb water, forming a gel, which can either drain or remain within the adhesive matrix.
• The moist environment promotes fibrinolysis, angiogenesis, and wound healing without damaging tissue.
• Most hydrocolloid dressings are waterproof.

Calcium Alginate Dressings

• These dressings are made of natural fibers from seaweed.
• They are highly absorbent.
• They absorb wound exudate, forming a gel-like covering over the wound.
• They help maintain a moist healing environment, promote healing, and minimize bleeding.
• The gel-like surface prevents the dressing from adhering to the wound.

This quiz focuses on the role of pharmacists in selecting surgical supplies and the essential properties of surgical dressings. It covers the classification of surgical dressings based on various factors. Enhance your understanding of how these supplies contribute to patient safety and healing.