A patient has an open abdominal wound. If local protocols allow, which dressing should you apply?

• A. Nonadherent dressing
• B. Wet dressing
• C. Adhesive bandage only
• D. Occlusive dressing

Answer: (D)

An occlusive dressing is used because it creates a sealed barrier over the wound while keeping it moist, which supports faster and cleaner healing for an open abdominal wound. The seal protects the wound from external contaminants and reduces fluid and heat loss, and it tends to stay in place over the curved abdominal surface even with movement.

Nonadherent dressings are designed to avoid sticking to the wound, but they don’t provide a reliable seal or moisture retention, so they offer less protection for a larger open wound. A wet dressing introduces excess moisture that can macerate surrounding skin and may allow contaminants to spread, and it’s not ideal for maintaining a stable wound environment. An adhesive bandage alone covers only a small area and cannot adequately seal or protect an open abdominal wound.