Rokaia M. Al-Shualah
Royal Commission Hospital, Saudi Arabia
Title: Groin dressing post cardiac catheterization: Traditional pressure Vs transparent film
Biography
Biography: Rokaia M. Al-Shualah
Abstract
Post cardiac catheterization puncture site care is usually done with a tight pressure dressing in many institutions and cardiac centers due to the belief that it should prevent the bleeding. This practice is uncomfortable to the patients. Nurses have also described difficulty in assessing the sheath insertion site in the groin when a pressure dressing is in place. A new way of dressing using transparent film dressing (TFD) has approved and rated better with regard to: comfort, less pain, decrease hematoma formation and facilitates nurses assessment of puncture wound site after femoral sheath removal. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of using a small transparent non pressure dressing compared with the traditional controlled pressure dressing applied to the femoral artery puncture wound to maintain haemostasis with respect to 3 outcomes: patient satisfaction, bleeding or hematoma formation, and ease of nursing assessment of the groin puncture site after the procedure. 80 post cardiac catheterization patients were randomized to have their groins dressed either with pressure dressing or TFD. 100% in TFD group vs 55% in pressure dressing group reported feeling very comfortable (p value of 0.003). Hematoma formation was equal in the two dressing groups with no incidence of bleeding complications. Nurses rated the ease of assessing the groin significantly higher for TFD than for pressure dressings (p value of 0.000). Dressing of the puncture site after cardiac catheterization with TFD was more comfortable than the conventional pressure dressing without any difference in hematoma or bleeding complications.