Calcium alginate as a temporary recipient bed dressing prior to the delayed application of split skin grafts

Alginate dressings in surgery and wound management: Part 2

This second in a three-part series looks at the use of seaweed-derived dressings in specific types of wounds

The use of calcium alginate dressings in deep hand burns

Deep burns of the hand are a common serious surgical problem with major occupational and economic implications. Control of haemorrhage during excision and grafting is difficult and postoperative haematoma may reduce graft take. Following excision, important deep structures such as extensor tendons or joints may be exposed. Such tissues do not take free skin grafts satisfactorily. We have found calcium alginate dressings can be of immense help in minimizing these technical problems. We describe our experience in one patient; three other patients have been treated with equal success.

Kaltostat

The wound dressings in C V Laboratories' Kaltostat range are composed of calcium sodium alginate. By managing the physical aspects of wounds, they also reduce the associated psychological distress.

A comparison of the use of polythene sheet and Jelonet as temporary dressings for excised wounds

This paper reports our experience of the use of polythene sheet as a temporary dressing for excised wounds. A prospective randomised double-blind trial was conducted to see whether or not polythene dressing was less painful to remove than our traditional dressing of Jelonet. Polythene was found to be less painful (p less than 0.01). Other advantages of the use of polythene are presented.