Calcium Alginate and Duoderm

[panurse101]

My question is regarding Calcium alginate and duoderm. I know a wound bed needs to be moist to heal, although, not wet or it will macerate. I understand the use of calcium alginate. However, our facility has begun using cal. alginate and duoderm on things such as pinpoint st 2 on the buttocks, say on someone that has a foley, and not incont. of bm. They put the cal. alginate on dry, and cover it with duoderm. They are also using this on small scabbed area's. I have not seen them use the alginate yet, on someone whose wound is draining, or on a wound bed that is dry and needs to be kept moist. It seems this has become the standard for using the cal. alginate and duoderm. I am not understanding this rationale. It is working on some, and making some wounds worse. Does anyone use this the same way? Please respond. Thank you.

[Bird2]

My question is regarding Calcium alginate and duoderm. I know a wound bed needs to be moist to heal, although, not wet or it will macerate. I understand the use of calcium alginate. However, our facility has begun using cal. alginate and duoderm on things such as pinpoint st 2 on the buttocks, say on someone that has a foley, and not incont. of bm. They put the cal. alginate on dry, and cover it with duoderm. They are also using this on small scabbed area's. I have not seen them use the alginate yet, on someone whose wound is draining, or on a wound bed that is dry and needs to be kept moist. It seems this has become the standard for using the cal. alginate and duoderm. I am not understanding this rationale. It is working on some, and making some wounds worse. Does anyone use this the same way? Please respond. Thank you.

Seems like over kill to me. I would never use the treatments together. I use alginate for draining wounds. If I need to cover the alginate with more than gauze I use a foam. I only use a hydrocolloid for surperficial stage 2 over a bony area such as the mid spine. I tend to use allevyn or opsite more than hydrocolloids.

[panurse101]

Seems like over kill to me. I would never use the treatments together. I use alginate for draining wounds. If I need to cover the alginate with more than gauze I use a foam. I only use a hydrocolloid for surperficial stage 2 over a bony area such as the mid spine. I tend to use allevyn or opsite more than hydrocolloids.

I just want to thank you.. you have made me realize .. Im not "crazy". Everything I have learned.. this just doesnt seem appropriate. However, I just cant seem to get through to anyone, except ones that don't have a say in the matter. I recently ordered some allevyn for a trial on some residents...but that has now gone to the waistside. Thank you for helping me keep my sanity.

[Bird2]

What may work is to have the different companies come in to inservice. That way they can explain to the nurses how to apply the dressing, how to monitor them, the appropriate use, and how long the dressing can be left on. All the companies that make the products do the inservices and also they usally have wound care nurses. We do this at least yearly. They have never charged us since they want there product used appropriately. Plus, won't you be the shining star if you can save your workplace money when dressings are used the correct way.