The Healing Powers of Surgical Tape |
|
Surgeons use many different instruments and supplies in their practice, and one of the most important is high quality surgical tape. Also referred to as medical tape, it can be made of medical grade paper, nylon, foam, or cloth. Surgical tape is used to hold a dressing onto a wound or surgical incision, so that the wound is protected by the dressing and does not get infected before it closes back up. Some people believe that exposing wounds to open air provides the best healing, but this is not true. Exposing a wound or an incision to open air has been shown by scientific study to actually increase the incidence of infection. This is not surprising, because bacteria and foreign objects can very easily get into open wounds. What is true is that both the dressing and the surgical tape need to be designed in a way that promotes air circulation to the wound, while maintaining a sterile barrier that keeps out harmful agents. It is important that the surgical tape be flexible and not too rigid, so it can maintain a perfect seal and hold the dressing in place on any part of the body, even a part of the body that bends or moves, like the elbow, or the face, or the knee. Of course, the patient should try to minimize movement while healing, but it’s impossible to keep some areas of the body completely still, so the tape must be designed accordingly. The best surgical tape is hypoallergenic, so it will not irritate the skin of even the most sensitive patients. In some cases, this is not enough, because the patient may have an allergy to latex. Many companies make medical tape, or surgical tape, that is latex free, to accommodate those patients. The adhesive on high quality surgical tape is especially important; it must be designed to seal the surgical tape to the bandage and hold it in place until it is time to remove it, but it also must designed to be easily removable, without tearing the skin when it is peeled away, and without leaving sticky residue that is hard to clean. It comes in different lengths and widths so it can be used for many different applications. It is a staple in first aid kits, and in medical offices of all types. |
 |  |  |
