Post CABG dressings (what do you use?)

[rickard]

i have seen silk tape with sterile gauze changed before 24hrs and elastoplast tape changed at 48 hrs. i'm wondering what other heart programs do for post op dressings????

[Bermuda]

Sternal drsg: Aquacel transparent.

[lkf569]

we used to use betadine wash 24 hr drsg change . But now we use Chloroprep and change the 4 by 3 drsg. q24hr and use plastic tape . then d/c dressing and leave open to air after 48 hr and cleasne with Chloroprep q12hr

[ICUCoOLWaTER]

Good evening everyone How are you doing fox ? it's nice to be with you once again. I was so busy at work teaching alot since I became BLS Instructor certified by the AHA last February.

Well in our CICU unit, we usually change the dressing after 72 hours unless its wet or it becomes dirty when we remove the Chest tubes otherwise we keep it in situ.

Matter fact, we still use Cosmopor and Mepore cleaning with antiseptic Solution ( CLARADONE) which constitue of Povidone-Iodine USP 10% W/V (1.0% Available Iodine), and the evidence of infection is very low.

I believe the major role lies on the emphasis on Hand Washing all the time.:redbeathe

[criticalHP, MSN, RN]

I was taught that you do not want to use chloroprep on the surgical wound because it gets rod of the skins natural flora (or is it fauna?). Chloroprep can be used around the incision, but not directly on it...only sterile saline no the wound...any one else been taught this?

That is correct. Sterile saleine on the wound. In our heart program we changed the drgs on POD 1, cleaned w/ sterile saline, and replaced with Transpore island drsg. The drsg was D/C'd on POD 2 (unless they were still intubated for some reason) and kept OTA, cleansed w/ sterile NS daily.