hydrogel dressing
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Characteristics
- sheet or amorphous gels that have 20-90% water
- some have starch copolymers that obsorb small amounts of exudate
- some products are dehydrated gels that offer more obsorption
- nonadhesive
- gas permeable
Indications
- painless or painful wounds
- dry to minimally exudating wounds
- partial-thickness wounds: sheet gel
- full thickness wounds: amorphous gel
- granular or necrotic wounds
- pressure ulcers
- diabetic ulcers
- arterial ulcers (do not moisten an arterial ulcer if no healing potential
- leave dry)
- laser wounds
- amorphous gels may be used on infected wounds if changed daily
Contraindications
- wounds with heavy exudate
- stage 1 wounds (ulcers)
- sheet hydrogels are NOT recommended on infected wounds
Advantages
- autolysis
- provides some autolytic debridement for minimal nonviable tissue[3]
- conforms to wound bed
- moist environment
- nonadhesive
- pain reduction, soothing
- no trauma upon removal
- semitransparent
Disadvantages
- potential to macerate surrounding skin
- may require secondary dressing
- some products may dehydrate wound
- may be difficult to retain in wounds
Notes
Helpful hints:
- saturate gauze pad with amorphous gel to pack into infected wounds with depth
- change dressing based upon amount of drainage
- if wound is drying out after 1 day, change dressing daily
- sheet hydrogels work well on skin tears
- change only 1-2 times/week
Products:
More general terms
More specific terms
- Aquasorb
- Biolex
- CarraDres
- Carrasyn
- Clearsite
- Comfeel Purilon Gel
- Curafil
- Curagel
- Curasol
- DiaB Gel
- Duoderm Gel
- Elastogel
- Flexderm
- FlexiGel
- HyFil
- Hypergel
- Iamin
- Intrasite Gel
- Normigel
- Nu-Gel
- NuGel
- NutraVue
- Restore Hydrogel
- Saf-gel
- silicone bandage
- silicone gel sheet
- Solosite
- Tegagel
- Thinsite
- Vigilon
- Woun'Dres