An Improved Chest Dressing

NOTE

An Improved Chest Dressing Vincent L. Hennessy, Jr., M.D., andDaniel J. Ullyot, M.D. ABSTRACT An improved and more comfortable method for holding a chest dressing in place is described.

C

hest dressings often must be worn for prolonged periods, such as during open drainage of empyema or during treatment of either chronic bronchocutaneous fistula, granulating wounds following trauma, wound infection, or contaminated wounds. An improved method for maintaining a dressing in place involves the use of an elastic tubular net bandage" that can be worn like a shirt over the dressing (Figure). This holds the dressing securely in place, even in an active patient; it permits full range of movement of the arms and chest; and it avoids use of adhesive tape. T h e stocking may be laundered and used repeatedly. Use of this thoracic stocking is an extremely effective method of holding chest dressings in place, and it has been enthusiastically accepted by our own pa ti en ts.

From the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Surgery, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif. Accepted for publication May 25, 1973. Address reprint requests to Dr. Ullyot, Department of Surgery, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif. 94143. fSurgifix, Ortho-Med, Inc., 3917 S.E. 122nd St., Portland, Ore.

536

THE ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY

NOTE:

A n Improved Chest Dressing

Bandage in use in a patient weighing 230 pounds who underwent thoracotomy and empyemectomy. Skin and subcutaneous tistue were allowed to heal secondarily because of wound contamination.

VOL. 16, NO.

5,

NOVEMBER,

1973

537