Importance Of Hydrocolloid Dressings

Hydrocolloid dressings are broadly used in the treatment of decubitus ulcers. Fletcher J, Moore Z, Anderson I, Matsuzaki K, (2011). Suggests that they have been recommended for use in Category/Stage II and III decubitus ulcers, and increasingly are being used in the management of Category/Stage I decubitus ulcers. Wounds must remain moist to promote new cell growth and allow wounds to close. Moist wound dressings also provide a barrier against bacteria and absorb fluid. The choice of wound dressings varies with the state of the wound, the goal being to achieve a clean, healing wound with granulation tissue. This essay will analyse the important role of hydrocolloid dressing’s that play a part into the promotion of decubitus ulcer healing process. Through various researches, this essay will provide a very clear understanding of the way these dressings are used in the health care industry today. Furthermore this essay will determine the importance of why it is a critical component in the prevention of wound healing.

In the health care industry today hydrocolloid dressings are among the most frequent dressings in the treatment of pressure ulcers. Hydrocolloid dressings can be defined as wafers or granules containing particles that interact with wound exudate to absorb the exudate by forming a gel. (TheFreeDictionary.com, 2014). Many researchers have conducted studies into why these dressings are benefitual. One study in particular has compared and contrasted the different effectiveness in using hydrocolloid dressings versus gauze dressings, Heyneman A (2008). The results indicate that hydrocolloids are more valuable than gauze dressings for the decrease of the wound sizes, the absorption ability, the time needed for changing of dre...

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...as not yet been verified. However, general practitioners must be mindful of the high sensitisation rate to exterior dressings and their element in patients who have decubitus ulcers.

The question then stands as to whether hydrocolloid dressings are the most appropriate for pressure ulcer wound healing. It was established that hydrocolloid dressings when compared with basic wound dressings like gauze are deemed more cost-effective and decrease the amount of pain when applying and removing wound dressings. However some other studies indicate otherwise and suggest that hydrocolloid dressings may not be the best and appropriate dressing when dealing with decubitus ulcer patients. In evaluation, more research needs to be undertaken in order to determine a clear and precise decision as to whether hydrocolloid dressings are the best form of dressing for decubitus ulcers.