What are the Various Dressings Applied in the Theatre?

This chapter discusses about the various dressings applies in the theatre. The purpose of a dressing is to eliminate all bacteria from the incision area, to protect the wound from injury, to keep down swelling, to absorb drainage, to immobilize an area, to give support to the area, for example after a skin graft and to make the patient more comfortable. However, there are certain common operations requiring special dressing routines, such as, colostomy dressing, haemorrhoidectomy dressing, mastectomy dressing, varicose vein dressing, ear dressing, tracheostomy dressing, knee dressing, and plaster of Paris Bandage. If there is more than one wound to be dressed, each is dealt with separately. Very often a drain is lead out through a stab wound. This would is dressed with plenty of swabs and wool. Practice in the use of the applicators of tube gauge is required by the circulating nurse.