Calcium Alginate Rope For Packing

Alginate fibres typically as a calcium salt interact with the wound exudates to form a moist gel as a result of the ion exchange between the calcium ions in the fibre and the sodium ions in the exudates.

Calcium alginate rope for packing.

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 fibres are biodegradable 1 therefore any residual fibres that remain after a dressing change pose no risk to patient safety. I have not been soaking it before packing.

The order is to irrigate with wound cleanser pack with calcium alginate rope and cover with c d d once daily and prn. An alginate wound dressing contains sodium and calcium derived from seaweed and come in the form of flat dressings. Since this is still my first year as an rn i m still learning and my question is this. Alginate dressings are absorbent wound care products that contain sodium and calcium fibers derived from seaweed.

15 the gel forming property of alginate eliminates fibre entrapment in the wound and helps in removing the dressing without much trauma. Does the calcium alginate rope need to be soaked in nss before packing. Non woven or fibrous non occlusive alginate dressings made from calcium alginate or calcium sodium alginate derived from brown seaweed form a soft gel in contact with wound exudate.