In caring for a patient with a chronic wound showing exudate around the wound margins, which intervention is most appropriate?

• A. Increase the frequency of dressing change
• B. Use of petrolatum-based skin protectant
• C. Use of Dakin's solution for cleaning the wound
• D. Use of dressing material that has more absorbing capacity

Answer: (D)

Managing exudate is key when a chronic wound shows drainage around the margins. Excess fluid can macerate surrounding skin and disrupt healing, so the goal is to keep the periwound area dry while maintaining a healthy moisture balance in the wound bed. An absorbent dressing captures the drainage and wicks it away from the wound surface, reducing leakage onto the skin and preventing maceration. This creates a more stable environment that supports healing.

Increasing how often you change the dressing helps only if the dressing is capable of containing the drainage; if the dressing itself isn’t absorbing well, changes won’t solve the problem and can disrupt the wound. Petrolatum-based skin protectants shield the skin but don’t manage drainage, so they don’t address the core issue. Dakin’s solution is a strong antiseptic that can be cytotoxic to healing tissue and is not appropriate for routine management of chronic wounds with exudate. Dressings with higher absorbing capacity directly tackle the drainage issue and protect the surrounding skin, making them the best choice.