Steps of a wet to dry dressing

Doctors may still order wet to dry dressings, but they also order betadine and hydrogen peroxide, too. All are no longer frecommended for wound care. My biggest problem since becoming certified is educating doctors!

Yes it is still being taught and this is 2007. I am really interested in learning more. Please email with more info if possible. Thanks

Our surgeons loove them, bid, tid....

Wet to dry dsgs is a method of debridement.

We still use wet to dry dressings and they are effective. My docs don't order peroxide or Betadine any longer and I remember the days of antacid and sugar; all of these things sometimes worked!!!!!!!!!!!.
The student was assigned a wet to dry and was given the correct steps. I would want to be aware that these dressings can be harmful to the surrounding healthy skin, note this in the care plan.
The key thing is to follow MD orders(unless containdicated) and always explain the procedure to the patient first.

But it is no longer recommended because it debrides healthy tissue as well.

I am amazed that we still use wet to dries, I know it works but so did leaches and bleeding to an extent.. Since there are better tools why not use them - I really feel wound care is under utilized in a big way

"7. Gently remove and discard the old tape and soiled dressing in a plastic trash bag. If the dressing sticks to the wound, moisten with sterile nss and then remove."

I am a nsg student and am being tested on wet to dry dressings tomorrow. My prof is actually a wound care specialist and says these are rarely used now but we are required to learn them. My question is this: if you are trying to debride do you want to wet the dressing when you remove it? I would think that removing it dry would be quite painful but that is what causes the debridement. Please let me know which way is correct: remove it when it is dry or rewet it? Thanks so much!

When I was in my first Med/Surg rotation at Duke Universtiy hospital, they used medical leeches and sterile maggots for capillary circulation and wound debridment, respectively. Just because it seems arcane, does not mean that it is not effective.

Nursing student here....So if they are not using wet to dry dressings anymore, what is more effective? Also, same question as Lucyinthesky, if wet to dry is ordered, how do you remove the dressing? Add saline or pull off dry? Any information is greatly appreciated.