Groin Dressing After Cardiac Catheterization. Comparison Between Light Dressing with Thin Transparent Tape (Tegadermpเน€เธ˜ยŽ) and Conventional Tight I Pressure Dressing with an Elastic Adhesive Bandage (Tesoplastเน€เธ˜ยŽ)

Post cardiac catheterization puncture site care is usually done with a tight pressure dressing by an elastic adhesive bandage (Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ) due to the belief that it should prevent bleeding. The practice is uncomfortable to the patients. The authors compared a new way of dressing using light transparent tape (Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ) to the conventional tight pressure one. 126 post coronary angiography patients were randomized to have their groins dressed either with Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ or with Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ. Patients ambulated 8 hours after the procedures. The groin was evaluated for pain, discomfort and bleeding complications. 49 per cent in the Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ vs 26.9 per cent in the Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ group expe- rienced pain (p value of 0.01 ). 55.5 per cent in the Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ group vs 11.1 per cent in the Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ group reported discomfort. 4.7 per cent in the Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ vs 1.6 per cent in the Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ group developed bleeding or hematoma. Dressing of the puncture site after cardiac catheterization with Tegaderma¹€a¸˜ÂŽ was more comfortable than the conventional Tensoplasta¹€a¸˜ÂŽ without any difference in bleeding complications. Key word : Groin Dressing, Post Cardiac Catheterization Puncture Site Care