What it means
The basic material of many dressings. It comes as square pads (such as 4 x 4 inch), rolls for wrapping and long strips for packing wounds. Gauze soaks up drainage and can be dry or moistened with saline. It comes sterile, for open wounds, or clean (nonsterile).
For the nurse
When removing a gauze dressing that has stuck to a wound, moisten it with saline first so it does not tear new tissue. Count gauze pieces packed into a wound and record the number, so all of them are removed later.
At a glance
| Spanish | gasa |
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