Calcium Alginate Rope For Packing

Does the calcium alginate rope need to be soaked in nss before packing.

Calcium alginate rope for packing. I have not been soaking it before packing. Activheal alginate fibres are naturally haemostatic. 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 highly absorbent and suitable for use on exuding wounds and for the promotion of autolytic debridement of debris in very moist wounds.

Alginate fibres are biodegradable 1 therefore any residual fibres that remain after a dressing change pose no risk to patient safety. The order is to irrigate with wound cleanser pack with calcium alginate rope and cover with c d d once daily and prn. Since this is still my first year as an rn i m still learning and my question is this. Following absorption of wound exudate the alginate dressing releases calcium ions into the wound which can activate platelets to control minor bleeding 2.

Alginate dressings are absorbent wound care products that contain sodium and calcium fibers derived from seaweed. 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. 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.