Table 2.

Functions of a Dressing^14,36,38,50

•Protect the wound from bacteria and foreign material

•Absorb exudate from the wound

•Prevent heat and fluid loss from the wound

•Provide compression to minimize edema and obliterate dead space

•Be nonadherent and removable without causing trauma

•Create a warm, moist occluded environment

•Cover an unsightly wound

•Minimize pain

•Splint or immobilizing the wound