【Learning points】

1. Start at the cleanest area of the wound and move outwards to the dirtiest area.Clean the wound using a circular stroke, starting at the centre and moving outward
2. Make sure use the swabs once only and avoid wiping back and forth. Never re-introduce them to a clean area once they have been contaminated
3. If you fever or increasing pain, swelling, redness, purulent or pus discharge, oozing(keep bleeding) or the wound smells，you wii Come back to hospital or contact us

The primary closure wounds are classified as clean or clean-contaminated wounds. There are 3 methods for surgical wound closure, including sutures, adhesives, such as surgical glue, adhesive strip of tape, and staples. The doctor will assess the wound and determine how best to treat it.

While at home, you must change dressing as request

The purpose of change dressing is to prevent post-operative wound infection and enhance wound healing.

I.Before changing the wound dressing

Preparation of wound care supplies

1. Clean gloves
2. Sterile saline solution(500ml bottle or 20ml single-use plastic ampoules)
3. Beta-iodine (10% povidone-iodine)(as requested)
4. Topical wound agents, such as antibiotic ointments, creams, gels: use by the doctor’s orders
5. Sterile gauze pads(The choice of gauze size will vary based on the wound size and depth— 1x1 inch, 2x2 inch, 3x3 inch or 4x4 inch, etc.)
6. Cotton swabs
7. Gauze bandage, elastic bandage (as requested)
8. Medical tapes (paper tape, transparent tape, silicon tape or retention tape, etc.)

1. Clean the area where you will set out your dressing supplies. Place the dressing supplies on the clean and hard surface.
2. Remove all the accessories on your hands and wrists
3. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry your hands well with a paper towel or a clean towel and then use the towel to turn the tap off.
4. Put on clean gloves
5. Remove the old dressing and dispose of it. Take the old dressing off carefully by gently lifting the edge and moving around the edges of the dressing until the whole dressing is off. Be careful to avoid causing injury to the wound and skin around the wound.
6. Remove the gloves.
7. Wash your hands after removal of the gloves.
8. Put on clean gloves. (You may need to wear sterile gloves if requested)
9. Use the cotton swab and soak in sterile saline solution. Clean the old ointment or wound discharge
10. Assess the wound and surrounding skin.
11. Use the cotton swab and soaked-swab with beta-iodine solution if required. There are 2 ways to clean the wound with a cotton swab.
12. From clean to dirty (incision, then outer edges)
13. Start in the cleanest area of the wound and move outwards to the dirtiest area. The suture line is considered the  “least contaminated” area and is cleansed first. Clean the wound using a circular stroke, starting at the centre and moving outward as shown in Figure 1.
14. From top to botto 
15. For linear wound, clean the wound from top to bottom in one motion, starting directly at the wound and moving                 outward, as shown in the Figure 2.
16. Wait 2 minutes and then use saline-soaked cotton swab to repeat the step XI.
17. Make sure to use the swabs only once and avoid wiping back and forth. Never re-introduce them to a clean area once they have been contaminated.
18. Apply the topical wound agent as requested.
19. Put the sterile gauze and adhere the dressing in place.
20. Use the gauze bandage or elastic bandage as request. Otherwise, you may use the tubular elastic netting to hold the dressings.
21. Wash your hands with soaps or antiseptic skin cleanser