Patient Education Cancer of the Pancreas: A Care Guide | Page 19

5. Wash your hands again with soap
and warm water.
6. Cut pieces of paper tape and have
them within reach for attaching
the dressing. Put on a new pair of
gloves, if using gloves.
7. Cleanse the wound with soap and
water:
• Gently wipe down one side of
the incision from the top of the
wound to the bottom in one
motion.
• Use another washcloth to clean
the other side of the incision.
• Be sure to cleanse around the
drain tubing carefully so it is not
pulled.
•
Pat the incision line dry with
towel from top to bottom.
8. Open the gauze dressing packages.
Pick up the new gauze dressing
carefully so you do not touch the
side that will go on the wound.
9. Apply new gauze dressing to drain
site.
If you are using split 4 x 4-inch
dressing:
•
Place a second split dressing
around the drain from the other
direction so that the dressings
overlap and surround the drain.
•
Apply plain 4 x 4-inch dressings
over the drain site.
•
Tape the dressing in place by
lapping each piece over to make
a tight seal over the gauze.
If you are using plain gauze 4 x
4-inch dressings:
•
Place one or more dressings
under the drain.
•
Put another 4 x 4-inch dressing
on the top of the drain exit
site.
•
Tape the dressing to create a
tight seal.
•
Place one split dressing around
the drain tube.
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