Surgical Dressings and Wound Management ebook | Dr Stephen Thomas | 9781844268344

In the last few decades, our increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in wound repair has stimulated the development of many new dressings and wound management techniques.

If these new dressings are to be used in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner, practitioners must have a good understanding of the properties and key functions of the products concerned.

This book has been produced to offer specific guidance in this important area with chapters on silver dressings, honey products, medical maggots and negative pressure therapy in addition to all the more conventional products including hydrocolloids, foams, films and fibrous dressings made from alginate or  CMC.

Each chapter contains an account of the historical development, structure and method of use of the individual treatments, and all of this information is supplemented by the results an extensive review of the clinical literature for each product group.

A final chapter offers some simple observations on the principles of dressing selection by making reference to a variety of different wound types. This section also illustrates how the use of an inappropriate treatment may cause significant problems to the patient and their carers. The book contains 720 pages and 125 illustrations, many in full colour, making it probably the most comprehensive source of reference of its type currently available.

Dr Stephen Thomas has worked in the surgical dressings field since 1974. For many years he was the Director of the Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory, a leading European centre for testing surgical dressings and medical devices. During this time he was involved in the development of numerous test methods and standards for dressings, and also participated  in several important clinical trials. In the late 1990s he was responsible for introducing maggot therapy into Europe and played a significant role in getting this technique adopted into mainstream wound management. He has published widely in this field and is the author or co-author of nearly 200 scientific papers and educational articles and numerous books. Having retired from full-time employment he now acts as a freelance medical writer and technical consultant in the medical device field.

1.       Structure and function of skin

2.       Classification of wounds

3.       Wounds: counting the cost

4.       Mechanisms of wound healing

5.       Wound Exudate

6.       The development of dressings.

7.       Laboratory testing of surgical dressings

8.       Low-adherent dressings

9.       Film dressings

10.        Foam dressings

11.        Polysaccharide fibre dressings

12.        Hydrocolloid dressings

13.        Polysaccharide beads

14.        Hydrogels and Xerogels

15.        Honey and sugar dressings

16.        Silver Dressings

17.        Odour Controlling Dressings

18.        Silicone dressings for scar treatment

19.        Maggot therapy

20.        Negative pressure wound therapy

21.        Dressing Selection

22.        Buyer’s guide

List of products in alphabetical order

Manufacturers’ contact details