Film dressings are one of the most commonly used dressing products. Healthcare professionals prefer Tegaderm film dressings when it’s crucial to examine wound healing. A durable, highly flexible, waterproof, and protective dressing makes the patient comfortable performing routine activities easily without any stress.
The dressing cannot absorb the fluid released by the wound; it is capable of breathing off the liquid in small quantities through vapor transpiration.
What is Tegaderm Film Dressing?
Tegaderm film dressing is a thin membrane made of polyurethane coated with an acrylic adhesive layer. The film dressing is permeable to water vapor and oxygen. But at the same time, it acts as a strong protective barrier against microorganisms and external contamination. Testing also shows this post-operative dressing acts as a barrier for viruses of 27 nm in diameter or larger while still keeping the dressing intact to the wound.
The dressing keeps the wound moisturized and protected. It makes film dressing preferred over other traditional dry wound dressings.
This post-operative film dressing is also X-ray transparent. It means there is no need for dressing removal when an X-ray is needed.
Writing on the film dressing will damage it, but new film dressings come with a breathable tape label to record the dressing change information.
Suggested Applications
Following are applications Tegaderm film dressing is used for:
- First and second-degree burns
- Donor sites
- Pressure areas
- Post-operative wounds dressing
- Skin abrasions and lacerations
- For peripheral and IV catheters
- Partial thickness dermal ulcers
- Leg ulcers
- As a secondary dressing
Contraindications
Though there is no such contraindication for the use of transparent film dressing it is recommended not to use this type of dressing for third-degree wounds, deep cavity wounds, wounds that show signs of infection, and not used to retain in-dwelling arterial catheters.
How to Apply the Dressing
As Tegaderm is a transparent film dressing, it uses a novel application method for wounds. The sauce consists of two parts. A printed sheet of release paper on the adhesive side and a slightly rigid outer part surround the adhesive surface or make a frame of the dressing.
Removal of the central portion of the card visualizes the wound clearly through dressing, making it easier to apply without wrinkles. The Tegaderm film dressing can be custom cut according to the shape of the injury and area of application. Wash your hands and wear gloves
- Remove the top liner of the dressing.
- Peel the dressing from its liner while avoiding touching the adhesive surface.
- Center the dressing over the wound
- Gently press the adhesive in the direction from the center to outward.
- Avoid stretching the dressing during the application.
- Place the tape around the edge of the dressing while pressing the corners firmly.
- If the wound is exuding heavily, the left is undisturbed as far as possible. But if too much exudate is accumulated under the dressing, it can be aspirated from the syringe using the aseptic technique.
- The dressing site should first be cleaned with alcohol or saline and dried carefully when dressing the cannula.
Removing the Dressing
The following are the method to remove Tegaderm film dressing:
- Start the removal process by gently lifting the dressing edges from the skin. If there is any difficulty in raising the dressing, apply tape on the edge of the sauce and then first lift the tape to remove the edges.
- Continue lifting the edges from one side to another until the dressing is completely removed from the skin.
- Remove the dressing folding over itself. It is suggested to remove the dressing in the direction of hair growth.
There might be an odor when removing the dressing from the skin, as the scent comes from the wound and disappears after cleaning. A smell can also signify leakage from a sauce before removal.
Key Considerations When Using Tegaderm Film wound care Dressing
Below are the critical aspects to consider when using transparent film dressing.
- It is important to have a well-defined plan for ulcer management if used for ulcer wounds. It should be performed under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
- While using the film dressing, the wound first seems larger in size and depth due to cleaning the debris tissues. If the situation persists and the wound size worsens after a few dressings, then consult the health care professional.
- Carefully observe the wound for infection. If there is any sign, such as fever, pain, redness, irritation, bleeding, swelling, or unusual odor of the discharge, then contact the physician as soon as possible.
- Skin irritation (redness of the skin accompanied by swelling), maceration (Skin whitening), or hyper granulation (formation of excessive tissue on the wound). If the scars show any signs, consult a healthcare professional.
- If there is no sign of wound healing or any unexpected symptom, it is important to discuss it with the physician.
- The dressing does not bind to the moist surface as it deactivates the adhesiveness of the Tegaderm film dressing.
- Avoid using it for patients with any active infection, fungal infection, or herpetic lesions.
- The dressing is not recommended for patients with fragile skin, such as the elderly or those taking steroids. These individuals are more prone to skin tears or epidermal stripping during dressing removal.
When to Remove the Tegaderm Film Dressing?
Using the single dressing for 7 days is recommended. This is most important for the dressing used to retain IV catheters.
The frequency of dressing could vary depending on the recommendation of the manufacturer. If the dressing becomes loose, shows the sign of skin irritation, or leakage is present, it is suggested to remove it and reassess if the dressing is the right fit for the wound or not.