Alginate Wound Dressing

These dressings are used in the management of wounds which are producing a great deal of exudate such as deep sores.

Alginate wound dressing. With sloughy wounds that also produce exudate the alginate dressing provides a moist cover to prevent the wound from drying out and allowing the wound to heal more quickly. Alginate dressings alginate dressings are composed of calcium alginate a gelatinous and water insoluble substance. An alginate wound dressing contains sodium and calcium derived from seaweed and come in the form of flat dressings.

They can also be used on dry wounds when combined with a sterile saline solution. These types of dressings are best used on wounds that have a large amount of exudate. This turns the dressing into a hydrophilic gel that maintains a moist environment for the wound.

Calcium alginate wound dressings are available in different types such as ribbon dressing and flat non woven pads. As a highly absorbent wound care choice an individual alginate wound dressing can absorb up to 15 to 20 times its own weight which makes these dressings really work for excessively secreting wounds. They come in the form of flat dressings that can be placed over open ulcers and rope dressings that are used for packing the wound which absorb fluids and promote healing with pressure ulcers diabetic foot ulcers or venous ulcers.

Alginate dressings are non occlusive to semi occlusive highly absorbent and made to manage moderate to large amounts of exudate figure 21 5. Some wound dressings also comes with an antimicrobial agent to fight infection. You can choose from alginate dressings which are latex or latex free and incorporated with silver carboxymethylcellulose cmc or hydrocolloid.

These dressings are made primarily of seaweed derivatives and the fibers are spun into ropes or sheets. Calcium alginate dressings are a strong versatile and natural wound care dressing typically applied to diabetic wounds venous wounds full thickness burns split thickness graft donor sites pressure ulcers cavity wounds and chronic ulcers. As the alginate absorbs fluid it is converted to a gel that provides moisture to the wound bed.

Alginates can be used in a variety of wound situations. They may be used on full thickness burns surgical wounds split thickness graft donor sites mohs surgery defects refractory decubiti and chronic ulcers. Common wound situations where alginate dressing can be applied are.