Donor Site Care
Care of a Donor Site with a Transparent Adhesive Dressing
Transparent adhesive dressing protects your donor site but does not absorb drainage. Drainage from the wound will collect under the dressing.
_____ Keep the transparent dressing dry.
_____ If drainage collects under the dressing and leaks, it is time to change the dressing. Call the number at the end of this handout if this problem occurs.
_____ Watch for signs and symptoms of infection. Call the number listed at the end of this handout if any of these problems occur.
- Fever
- Increased pain
- Change in drainage of donor site wound
- Redness going beyond the edges of the donor site wound into the skin around it.
Care of a Donor Site with a Gauze Covering
_____ Leave the donor site open to air to dry.
_____ Starting on ____________, wash the donor site gently each day with mild soap and water. Rinse the site and pat dry.
_____ Starting on _______________, apply moisturizing lotion to the gauze after washing the donor site.
_____ Trim the edges of the gauze as it lifts and loosens.
_____ Watch for signs and symptoms of infection. Call the number listed at the end of this handout if any of these problems occur.
- Fever
- Increased pain
- Change in drainage of donor site wound
- Redness going beyond the edges of the donor site wound into the skin around it
Care of a Donor site with a Mepilex® Dressing
Mepilex® is an absorbent foam dressing with a silicone layer that adheres to intact skin and does not stick to open wounds.
_____ Leave the donor site dressing in place until you return to clinic. Keep it clean and dry.
_____ You should call the number listed at the end of this handout and return to clinic to have your dressing checked if any of these problems occur. Your dressing might need to be changed.
- Outer dressing becomes saturated with too much drainage from the donor site.
- Outer dressing gets wet.
- Dressing becomes dislodged, exposing the open donor site.
- Watch for signs and symptoms of infection.
- Fever
- Increased Pain
- Change in drainage on the donor site dressing
- Redness going beyond the edges of the donor site dressing into the skin around the the dressing.
Care of a Donor Site after the Dressing Has Been Removed
_____ Put on moisturizing lotion to keep a newly healed donor site from drying out and cracking.
_____ Treat blisters or open areas with ___________________.
_____ Watch for signs and symptoms of infection (see above). Call the number listed at the end of this handout if you notice any of these problems.
Care of Primary Closure Donor Site
_____ Keep the site covered until ____________________ with the first dressing.
_____ Once the dressing is removed, leave the incision site open to the air.
_____ If Steri-strips are used (thin white tapes across your incision), do not remove them until they loosen and fall off on their own. This takes about one week.
_____ You may shower starting on __________________________. No tub baths.
_____ Watch for signs and symptoms of infection. Call the number listed at the end of this handout if any of these problems occur.
- Fever
- Increased pain
- Change in drainage of donor site wound
- Redness going beyond the edges of the incision into the skin around it.
Phone Numbers
If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at:
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM - 5 PM Surgery Clinic (608) 263-7502
Evening, Nights, Weekends (urgent issues) Paging operator (608) 262-0486
Ask for the Burn resident. Leave your name and phone
number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
Spanish version HFFY #5829.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 07/22/2011
Copyright © 07/22/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #5825
Print Health Fact For You

