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Will the dressing you choose do the job? Use the following chart as a general guide for matching wound characteristics with an appropriate dressing type.

Partial-thickness, light to moderate exudates
• Hydrocolloid
• Transparent film
• Hydrogel sheet
• Impregnated nonadherent
• Lubricating spray
• Composite
• Foam

Partial-thickness, heavy exudates
• Calcium alginate
• Hypertonic saline gauze
• Composite

Full-thickness, light to moderate exudates, no necrosis
• Hydrocolloid
• Foam
• Amorphous hydrogel
• Wet packing
• Composite

Full-thickness, moderate to heavy exudates, some necrosis, dead space
• Exudate absorber
• Calcium alginate
• Foam cavity

Note: Cover a packed wound with a transparent film or a nonadherent dressing to keep the wound moist. If you moisten gauze with saline, discard the bottle after 24 hours to avoid contaminating the wound—saline is unpreserved.