Types of medical gauze

Gauzes are an indispensable material in the work routines of healthcare professionals. Their versatile design and composition make them suitable for a wide range of situations, from protecting wounds to prevent the skin from coming into contact with pathogens to immobilizing a specific area in case of injury. In this article, we will learn about the different types of gauze that can be found on the market today and the most common applications for each of them. 

Gauzes, a fundamental resource in medicine

Gauzes are cloth compresses indicated for multiple purposes, although they are often used for wound cleaning and injury coverage. Although they have traditionally been made with interwoven threads in a grid shape and have been supplied folded, advances in technology have allowed the creation of other types of composition from new fibers, vastly expanding the repertoire of options. Depending on the materials used during their manufacture and their design, gauzes have specific properties and usually serve a specific purpose.

What are gauzes used for

The most common uses of gauzes in medicine include:

• Treatment of hemorrhages: gauzes can stop mild and medium hemorrhages if pressure is applied directly to the wound with them, promoting blood clotting.
• Absorption of exudates and secretions: due to their high absorption capacity, gauzes are perfect for cleaning the secretions and exudate of a wound, preventing phenomena such as suppuration from posing a serious problem.
• Coverage of injuries: gauzes serve as a physical barrier to protect wounds, preventing chafing between the skin and other external elements. They also prevent cross-contamination between surfaces, preventing the transmission of pathogens in both directions.
• Muscle immobilization: roll-supplied gauzes can be used to cover certain areas of the body in order to immobilize them and aid their rehabilitation after an injury. 
• Maintaining temperature: by acting as a physical barrier, gauzes can also serve as thermal insulation for injuries, keeping the heat in the wound and speeding up the healing process.
• Surface disinfection: gauzes can be used as a support for the application of disinfectants and surface cleaning solutions, such as physiological serum. For this reason, they are often used to apply antiseptics before a puncture. 

What types of gauze exist?

The main difference between the different types of gauze lies in their composition, shape, and the way they are made. In this way, a differentiation is made between conventional cotton gauzes, non-woven fabric gauzes (TST), radiopaque gauzes (RX gauzes), or swabs.

Cotton gauzes

As their name suggests, they are made with threads based on natural cotton and can be purchased both sterile and unsterilized. They are made with a grid-shaped thread interweave and are usually folded on themselves. They do not have a great absorption capacity, but they are very useful for surface cleaning, hemostasis procedures, applications of topical medicines in minor wounds, and muscle immobilizations. They are also used in procedures where body cavities need to be filled and, although it is a practice in recession, they are used in mechanical debridement operations.

As a general rule, the more threads and folds the gauze has, the greater its absorption power, so it is important to take its composition into account when choosing one. On the other hand, it is essential to consider that cotton is a fiber that releases residues, so its use in postoperative care is not recommended. By releasing fibers and adhering to tissues, it can interfere with the healing process and end up slowing it down, so they are also not indicated for the treatment of type 2 and 3 wounds. 

Non-woven fabric gauzes

The non-woven fabric gauzes (TST or TNT) are made up of a pressed conglomerate that offers exceptional absorption. They are usually composed of materials such as rayon, polyester, viscose or a mixture of all of them. They are noticeably more resistant and of greater volume and release fewer fibers than woven compresses; however, they have a higher price than these.

Due to the softness and elasticity of its components and its ability not to release fibers, non-woven compresses are ideal for controlling moderate exuding wounds and for treating type 2 and 3 injuries. On the other hand, they are completely safe for postoperative protection and thanks to their padded texture they can be used in sensitive areas to cushion them from blows.

Even so, they also have certain disadvantages. Their low adherence can make them difficult to handle if tweezers are not available and although they are safe for wound protection, they cannot be used to fill cavities because they eventually decompose completely.

Gauze swabs

This format is characterized by having a spherical shape as a result of having folded a cotton gauze onto itself. This ensures that there are no loose threads that can adhere to the wound and end up contaminating it, making them a reliable alternative to conventional cotton gauzes. However, they do not have as high an absorption capacity as non-woven fabric gauzes, so they are not recommended for exudates of large volume. They are usually used in wound cleaning and disinfection of small caliber injuries.

Radiopaque thread gauzes (RX gauzes)

The difference in this type of gauze lies not so much in its composition, but in its design. Unlike the rest of the models, RX thread gauzes have a radiopaque fiber strip that produces a color contrast when performing an x-ray. This is especially useful in cases of internal surgery because it allows the detection of gauzes that have been accidentally forgotten, thus preventing contamination and complications after the intervention. 

Wide catalog of gauzes

At DH Medical Material, we have been experts in fungible items for the healthcare field for over thirty years. We have an extensive assortment of gauzes - both sterile and non-sterile -designed to effectively meet the needs and demands of medical professionals. Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to receive information about our products or want to purchase surgical gauzes for your consultation.