Alginate gauze is gauze extracted from seaweed, often used to cover moderate to heavy exudation wounds. Thanks to the ability to gel immediately upon contact with wound fluid, gauze helps promote healing in a moist environment. Each alginate swab can absorb 20 times its weight in fluid.
1. Alginate gauze classification
1.1. Based on shape
Alginate gauze is divided into 2 types:
– Gauze pads: Easily applied to wounds, open sores with many different shapes.
– Bandage gauze: Usually used for deep, tunneled wounds.
1.2. Based on the properties of gauze
Alginate gauze is also divided into 2 types:
– Regular Alginate gauze: Is a gauze extracted from natural cellulose sources. Capable of controlling fluid, creating gel immediately upon contact with wound fluid. Thanks to this gel layer, gauze has the ability to promote healing, automatic cutting. Not only that, thanks to the ability to exchange ions between calcium ions of Alginate gauze and sodium ions of wound fluid, Alginate gauze also has the ability to stop bleeding in small capillaries.
– Antibacterial Alginate gauze: An Alginate gauze impregnated with antibacterial agents such as silver ions, nano silver, etc. Therefore, in addition to all the properties of regular Alginate gauze, antibacterial Alginate gauze also has the ability to kill bacteria on the surface. wound surface (bactericidal efficiency up to 99.99%).
2. Characteristics of Alginate gauze
Absorbs fluid very well, 15-20 times the weight of gauze
– Create gel immediately upon contact with wound fluid
– Do not stick to the wound
– Remove tissue, dead cells automatically
– Hemostasis in small capillaries
– Has antibacterial properties
– Suitable for many types of wounds
– Create a suitable moist environment for the wound
– Promotes granulomatous tissue growth
– Changing gauze is painless
3. Designation
Alginate gauze is indicated for moderate to heavy exudation wounds such as:
– Pressure ulcers
– Diabetic ulcers
– Venous ulcers
– Burns
– The wound has a tunnel
– Skin grafting
– Infected wound…
4. Contraindications
Alginate gauze should not be used for the following wounds:
– Dry wound, little discharge
The wound is bleeding profusely…
5. Instructions for using Alginate gauze
– Wash the wound and surrounding skin with physiological saline
– Dry the wound and surrounding skin with sterile gauze.
– Gently apply Alginate gauze on the wound surface so that the gauze covers the wound area and spreads around the wound 1-2 cm.
– Use secondary tape to fix gauze.
– Change gauze when gauze has exhausted its ability to absorb fluid.
– Use physiological saline to irrigate the gauze area to remove the gauze easier.