Since this is still my first year as an rn i m still learning and my question is this.
Calcium alginate rope for packing.
Activheal alginate fibres are naturally haemostatic.
15 the gel forming property of alginate eliminates fibre entrapment in the wound and helps in removing the dressing without much trauma.
I have not been soaking it before packing.
Alginate dressings are highly absorbent and suitable for use on exuding wounds and for the promotion of autolytic debridement of debris in very moist wounds.
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.
The order is to irrigate with wound cleanser pack with calcium alginate rope and cover with c d d once daily and prn.
Does the calcium alginate rope need to be soaked in nss before packing.
Following absorption of wound exudate the alginate dressing releases calcium ions into the wound which can activate platelets to control minor bleeding 2.
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.
Alginate fibres are biodegradable 1 therefore any residual fibres that remain after a dressing change pose no risk to patient safety.
An alginate wound dressing contains sodium and calcium derived from seaweed and come in the form of flat dressings.