The application of the modified surgical wound dressing in wound care after tracheotomy

INTRODUCTION This study was performed to observe the efficacy of a modified surgical wound dressing applied as part of decannulation wound care after tracheotomy. METHODS Eighty-four patients were randomly allocated into a traditional care group, a surgical wound dressing group, and a modified surgical wound dressing group. Each group comprised 28 patients. The following outcomes were observed and analyzed: infection rate, wound closure time, dressing change frequency, cost of wound care, and patients' comfort. RESULTS The infection rate, wound closure time, dressing change frequency, and cost of wound care were much higher in the traditional care group than in the surgical wound dressing group and modified surgical wound dressing group. The study data indicated that patients in the modified surgical dressing group felt more comfortable than those patients in the other two groups. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). DISCUSSION The design of the herein-described modified surgical wound dressing is based on a butterfly shaped adhesive and mirrors the advantages of a modern surgical wound dressing. Its shape is suitable for the physiological structure of the neck, making it more comfortable to use. Aseptic packaging and a high degree of adhesiveness guarantee continuous fixation and pulling. At the same time, the design of the dressing decreases the chance of infection.