SMTL Dressings Datacard

Description

Blue Line Webbing has been classified as a Type 3d `Extra High Compression Bandage'. It consists of a characteristic fabric, woven in ribbon fashion, in which the warp threads are composed of cotton and rubber, and the weft threads are of cotton or combined cotton and viscose yarns. The mid-line warp threads are coloured blue. The bandage, which is extensible along its length, is highly elastic by virtue of the rubber threads, which impart considerable power to the bandage. Blue Line Webbing is one of the most powerful compression bandages currently available and it may be used to apply and maintain very high levels of pressure. The maximum compression that the product is able to achieve on an average leg is well in excess of that which would ever be required clinically. Blue Line Webbing may be washed repeatedly without affecting its performance significantly. The bandage is available in bulk rolls and pre-cut lengths, which may have a foot loop stitched at one end to facilitate application.

Indications

The primary indication for the use of Blue Line Webbing is in the management of large, grossly oedematous limbs and other conditions in which compression therapy is indicated and where alternative bandages are unable to achieve the desired levels of sub-bandage pressure. Recently however, alternative more `user-friendly' high compression bandages have been developed which may be used in place of Blue Line for most applications, (see Setopress and Tensopress .

Contra-indications

As with all compression bandages, Blue Line Webbing should not be applied to patients who have marked ischaemia or impaired arterial blood supply. The inappropriate use of the bandage in these situations could have very serious consequences.

Method of use

When used to apply compression to a leg, the bandage should be held with the bulk roll facing upwards. Working from the inner aspect, a single turn is made over the top of the foot around the base of the toes to secure the bandage, and a second turn taken up to the base of the heel. After making a figure-of-eight around the ankle, the bandage is applied up the leg, with each turn overlapping the previous one by 50% (using the line in the centre of the bandage as a guide). Once in place, the bandage may be fastened with clips or pins, as appropriate. Care should be taken to ensure that the bandage does not cause a tourniquet effect at the knee, and the operator should ensure that a pressure gradient exists beneath the bandage, with the highest levels of pressure at the ankle.

Frequency of Change

Provided the bandage has been correctly applied and does not become displaced, it will continue to apply the desired levels of compression over an extended period. It is sometimes recommended however that Blue Line Webbing should be removed at night and reapplied before the patient gets out of bed in the morning.

Warnings

The characteristics of the fabric of the bandage are such that it has a tendency to become loose as the various overlapping turns slip and slide over one another. The fabric also tends to be heavy and abrasive and some patients cannot tolerate its use for extended periods of time. Because of the power inherent in the bandage, care must be taken to ensure that it is not applied with excessive tension for the pressure that is produced beneath Blue Line Webbing will not decrease significantly with time as it will beneath a cr êpe bandage. It is also important to ensure that the bandage is applied with no more than a 50% overlap, to do otherwise will result in the formation of excessive pressure which in turn may lead to areas of pressure necrosis

Presentation

Blue Line Webbing is presented individually shrink-wrapped.

Sizes

7.5 cm* × 25 m

10.0 cm* × 25 m

10.0 cm* × 2.25 m ¶

¶ With foot loop

* available on Drug Tariff in appropriate lengths

Revision Details

This datacard has been prepared from data provided by the manufacturer and/or from published literature.

URL: http://www.worldwidewounds.com/WMPRC/DataCards/HTML/blueline.html
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Jan-2014 15:38:02 GMT