3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape

Features of Medipore H Soft Cloth Surgical Tape

• It is gentle and highly breathable soft cloth tape to maintain skin integrity
• Reduces the risk of skin irritation
• Can adhere with only finger or hand pressure
• Conformable with excellent bi-directional stretch to accommodate swelling and movement
• High adhesion cloth medical tape for a range of applications
• Adhesion builds over time, with the first 24 hours
• Perforated tape allows user to tear tape off the roll by hand
• 3M Medipore Tape prevents Medical Adhesive Related Skin Injuries (MARSI), which is the key for providing positive patient outcomes
• Easy to apply and remove
• Easy to handle, with or without gloves
• No curling or self-adhesion
• Economical and available in single-use roll

Conditions to use 3M Soft Cloth Surgical Tape?

Medipore H Surgical Cloth Tape is used for dressing and device securement and indicated for following condition types:

• IV Related Condition Type: Arterial Catheter, CVC Implanted Port, CVC Dialysis, CVC Short-Term, CVC PICC, CVC Tunneled, Epidural Catheter, PICC
• Skin Care Condition Type: Trauma from dressings and tapes, Peri-Tube Skin Irritation and Trauma at Tracheostomy Site
• Wound Care Condition Type: Closed Intact Surgical Wound, Donor Sites, Laceration, Abrasions, Neuropathic Ulcers, Open Surgical Wounds, Skin Tear, Superficial Partial Thickness Burns, Venous Leg Ulcer

Suggested Applications of 3M Cloth Surgical Tape

• When repeated taping is required
• Securing ostomy pouches or dressings to fragile skin
• Securing over such areas where skin may stretch as in case of hematoma formation or movement, edema and distention
• Anchoring post-surgical dressings
• Used as retentive sheeting over gauze

Safe And Effectiveness

Safe as shown by:

• Human Repeat Insult Patch Testing
• Human Cumulative Irritation Patch Testing

Effective as shown by:

• Extensive tests on human volunteers
• Product evaluations in clinical settings

What to consider while choosing a tape for tube or dressing secural?

1. Degree of importance of tube or dressing:
   • The more critical the tubing/dressing, the higher the adhesion required
   • Strength of adhesion and backing may be more important than gentleness
   • Gentle tapes with higher adhesion may be used without increasing the risk of skin trauma if properly applied and removed
   • Some tapes are less gentle but are used for high initial adhesion, high long-term adhesion and high strength of backing
2. Surface characteristics:
   • Heavy tubings require higher adhesion
   • Bulky dressings require high conformability and may require greater adhesion
   • Individual results may vary
   • Skin:
     • Dry, Damp, Diaphoretic
     • Wet: secretions, leaking tubes
     • Weeping, Macerated, Oily
   • Dressing: Material, Weight, Conformability
   • Device:
     • Contour, Weight
     • Material: metal, plastic, other
   • Tubing:
     • Diameter: small, large
     • Texture: smooth, ribbed, other
     • Material: PVC, silicone, other
     • Weight, Length, Potential for drag or pull, Other support (e.g., sutures, tunneling)
3. Activity level of patient: The more active the patient, the higher the adhesion required
4. Potential for skin surface distention or movement: The risk of skin damage may be reduced by using tapes that stretch with skin distention or movement
5. Anticipated wear time: Tape adhesion generally builds over time. Breathable tapes are used for longer-term wear
6. History and current medical conditions: History and current medical conditions should be studied e.g., allergies/ sensitivities to medical adhesives, medications, medical conditions

Frequently Bought Together

• 3M Coban LF Latex Free Self-Adherent Wrap
• 3M Cavilon No-Rinse Skin Cleanser
• Smith & Nephew Uni-Solve Adhesive Remover

How to use 3M Medipore Soft Cloth Surgical Tape?

• Tape should be applied without tension to clean, dry skin.
• A clipper may be used to remove hair, if necessary.
• To protect at-risk skin, 3M Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film may be applied and when thoroughly dry, the tape may be applied over it.
• In general, do not encircle a limb completely with tape.
• If distention is anticipated, use a tape that stretches or a self-adherent wrap to secure the dressing or tubing.

General Taping:

• Apply the tape without tension, gently but firmly stroking the surface to maximize adhesion.
• Tape should extend at least one-half inch beyond the dressing.
• Tape should not be pulled or stretched when applied.
• If swelling does occur, loosen and re-fasten or replace tape to relieve the tension.

 

When compression is needed:

• Place first section of tape without tension onto skin on one side of the dressing, gently pressing downward.
• With one hand, secure tape on one edge of the dressing while slightly stretching next section of tape over the dressing.
• Secure tape on opposite edge of the dressing.
• Press remaining tape onto skin without tension. Compression should come from the multiple layers of dressing material, not from excessive tension in the tape. Skin distention under tape may result in blistering and should be relieved as soon as possible.

 

When distention is anticipated:

• Foam tapes generally stretch in all directions; however, non-woven soft cloth tapes, such as 3M Medipore Soft Cloth Tape, and 3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Tape have more stretch in the cross-direction and on the bias.
• The direction of the stretch should be considered when securing a dressing or tubing to an area that is at high risk for distention, edema, hematoma formation, or movement.
• Anecdotally, applying soft cloth tape parallel to the incision appears to be associated with fewer skin tension injuries than taping perpendicular to the incision.

 

How to remove this Surgical Tape?

Proper medipore tape removal is critical in reducing the occurrence of skin trauma.

1. Loosen edges of white plastic tape. If necessary, press a small piece of tape onto a corner to start an edge of the tape.
2. Stabilize the skin with one finger. Remove tape “low and slow” in direction of hair growth, keeping it close to skin surface and pulled back over itself. Removing tape at an angle will pull at the epidermis increasing risk of mechanical trauma.
3. As tape is removed, continue supporting newly exposed skin

3M Medipore H - Tips For Trouble Free Taping

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I increase tape adhesion?

The key concepts to maximize adhesion are:

• Start with clean, dry skin
• Touch the sticky surface of the tape as little as possible
• Apply sufficient pressure to the tape to get the adhesive into the nooks and crannies of the skin
• Cover adequate surface area so that the tape can support the tubing or dressing
• Obtain full contact between the tape and the skin or tubing so that moisture cannot slip between the two and loosen the tape

Why do we have an expiration date for tapes? What happens when a tape “expires?”

The expiration date allows us to ensure the performance of the tape products within a specified time period. In general, we do not expect changes in performance shortly after the expiration date, but 3M ensures performance within that time frame. The recommended shelf life for Medipore tape and the Medipore pre-cut dressing covers is 3 years under normal storage conditions. The Medipore +Pad dressings shelf life is 3 years or sooner if sterility is broken.

Is there a special way to apply 3M medipore tape?

The direction of the stretch should be considered when securing a dressing or tubing to an area that is at high risk for distention, edema, hematoma formation, or movement. Anecdotally, applying soft cloth tape parallel to the incision appears to be associated with fewer skin injuries than taping perpendicular to the incision. When distention or movement under the tape is not anticipated, the direction of the stretch of Medipore tape is not known to make a difference.

Is 3M Medipore tape sterile? Can it be sterilized?

Rolls of 3M Tapes are sold clean, not sterile. Medipore tape may be sterilized by ethylene oxide but NOT by steam (autoclave). Although 3M provides guidelines, it is up to the facility to ensure sterility. At this time, Sterrad processing with hydrogen peroxide is not recommended for Medipore tape.

Is 3M Medipore Tape hypoallergenic?

Yes, it is hypoallergenic and feels comfortable on the skin.

What is the difference between Medipore tape and Medipore H tape?

The major difference between both the tape is that Medipore H tape has a higher level of adhesion and is often more gentle upon repeated taping than Medipore tape.

Is it latex-free?

Yes, 3M Medipore Tape is Latex-free.