Alginate dressings

Alginates are made from what?

Seaweed

Are they highly absorbent?

Yes

How does the alginate dressing work?

It forms a gel when it comes into contact with wound exudate

What are some advantages to using an alginate dressing?

• moldable

• moveable

• promote a moist wound enviroment

• easy to use

What are some disadvantages to using an alginate dressing?

• Expensive if wound is large

• If the wound bed is dry it will not form a gel but will adhere to tissue causing granulation

• Moderate to heavy exudate

• Fill dead space

• Moist healing

• Autolytic debridement

• Full and partial thickness

• Bleeding wounds

• Infected wounds

When is it appropriate to use an alginate dressing?

When is it CONTRAINDICATED to use Alginates

Third degree burns

Minimal Exudate

Eschar present

How often do you change an alginate dressing?

This depends on the amount of exudate

If high levels of exudate

change the dressing daily

When to change if moderate levels of exudate

Change every 2-3 days

Cannot leave in more than 7 days or

Alginate dries out and adheres to the wound

When do you evaluate if dressing needs to be something else?

If you are changing the dressing more than 2X a day, you may need to change what type of dressing it is

Hydrogel + Alginates =

Canceling each other out!!

Hydrogels provide moisture

Alginates absorb

If you see strikethrough what do you do?

change the dressing

What do you do if the wound bed is dry?

You use a different type of topical dressing

what happens if you put alginate in a dry wound bed?

It will adhere to the tissue forming granulation and causing trauma

Can Alginate dehydrate a dry wound bed?

Yes, there is nothing to abosrb

Do you lightly or tightly pack dead spaces with Alginate?

Lightly- overpacking delays healing

How do you remove alginate?

tweezers, forceps or gloved hands

Gently lift out and discard

How do you hydrate alginate if removing it and it is dry?

Saturate with NS (normal saline) or wound cleaner

If this still sticks then alginate may not be appropriate