Purilon Hydrogel Wound Dressing

Purilon Gel is a sterile hydrogel wound dressing with both hydrating and absorbing properties, designed to support the gentle autolytic debridement of necrotic and sloughy wounds while maintaining a moist wound-healing environment.

The gel contains purified water, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and calcium alginate. It helps hydrate and soften dry necrotic tissue while simultaneously absorbing excess wound exudate, slough and debris.

Purilon Gel is particularly useful for dry to lightly exuding necrotic or sloughy wounds and should be used with an appropriate secondary dressing.

Key features:

• Sterile hydrogel wound dressing
• Supports autolytic debridement
• Combines hydrating and absorbing properties
• Hydrates and softens:
  • Dry necrotic tissue
  • Slough
• Absorbs:
  • Excess exudate
  • Slough
  • Wound debris
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment
• Viscous gel helps it remain in the wound
• Cohesive formulation remains intact after absorbing wound material
• Easy to rinse away with:
  • Physiological saline
  • Clean tap water
• Controlled applicator supports hygienic application
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• Suitable for use throughout the wound-healing process where clinically appropriate
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

Composition:

Purilon Gel contains:

• Purified water
• Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)
• Calcium alginate

The combination provides both hydration and absorption.

How Purilon Gel works:

Autolytic debridement uses the body's own natural processes and moisture to soften and remove devitalised tissue.

Purilon Gel helps this process by:

1. Providing moisture to dry necrotic and sloughy tissue.
2. Softening devitalised tissue.
3. Absorbing excess wound exudate.
4. Drawing slough and debris into the gel.
5. Maintaining a moist environment that supports wound healing.

Unlike some hydrogels, Purilon has a cohesive, viscous consistency and remains substantially intact after absorbing wound debris and exudate, helping facilitate removal during dressing changes.

Suitable wound types include:

Purilon Gel is indicated for necrotic and sloughy wounds, including:

• Leg ulcers
• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Non-infected diabetic foot ulcers
• Wounds containing a mixture of:
  • Necrotic tissue
  • Slough
  • Granulation tissue
• First-degree burns
• Second-degree burns

Purilon Gel can also be used later in the wound-healing process where additional moisture is required to maintain an appropriate moist wound environment.

Particularly suitable for:

• Dry wounds
• Low-exuding wounds
• Necrotic wounds requiring hydration
• Sloughy wounds requiring autolytic debridement

Purilon Gel is generally not appropriate as the primary exudate-management product for heavily exuding wounds.

How to use:

Purilon Gel should be used according to the manufacturer's Instructions for Use and the patient's wound-management plan.

1. Assess and cleanse the wound according to the appropriate wound-care protocol.
2. Remove loose necrotic tissue where clinically appropriate.
3. Carefully remove the protective cap from the applicator.
4. Apply Purilon Gel directly to the wound bed.
5. Apply sufficient gel to cover the area requiring treatment without excessively overfilling the wound.
6. Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing.
7. Secure the secondary dressing as required.

The choice of secondary dressing should take into account:

• Wound type
• Exudate level
• Wound depth
• Condition of the surrounding skin

Secondary dressing required:

Purilon Gel does not provide adequate secondary protection or fixation by itself.

It should be covered with an appropriate dressing selected according to the wound and exudate level.

Suitable secondary dressings may include appropriately selected:

• Foam dressings
• Film dressings
• Other absorbent wound dressings

depending on the individual wound.

Dressing changes:

For necrotic and sloughy wounds, Coloplast recommends changing Purilon Gel:

At least every 3 days

to optimise wound cleansing.

More frequent changes may be required where:

• Exudate levels are increasing
• The secondary dressing becomes saturated
• Leakage occurs
• Infection is suspected
• The wound requires more frequent assessment

The dressing-change frequency should always be based on clinical assessment.

Removal:

Purilon Gel is designed for straightforward removal.

At dressing change:

1. Remove the secondary dressing.
2. Rinse Purilon Gel from the wound using:
   • Physiological saline, or
   • Clean tap water where appropriate.
3. Reassess and cleanse the wound.
4. Reapply Purilon Gel if continued treatment is required.

Important information:

Purilon Gel should be used as part of an appropriate wound-management programme.

The underlying cause of the wound must also be assessed and treated.

For example:

• Venous leg ulcers may require compression therapy
• Diabetic foot ulcers may require off-loading
• Pressure injuries require pressure redistribution
• Arterial wounds require vascular assessment
• Infected wounds require appropriate infection management

Diabetic foot ulcers:

The manufacturer's indication specifically refers to non-infected diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot wounds require appropriate professional assessment because infection, neuropathy and impaired circulation can substantially affect healing.

Infection:

Purilon Gel is not an antimicrobial dressing.

If there are signs of wound infection, seek appropriate clinical assessment.

Signs may include:

• Increasing redness
• Swelling
• Heat
• Increasing pain
• Purulent discharge
• Offensive odour
• Fever
• Rapid wound deterioration

Do not allow use of a hydrogel to delay appropriate treatment of wound infection.

Important precautions:

Do not use:

• In patients with known hypersensitivity to any component
• If the sterile applicator or packaging is damaged
• After the expiry date

Do not:

• Reuse an opened applicator
• Re-sterilise
• Share an applicator between patients

The gel and applicator are intended for single use.

Product type: Hydrogel Wound Dressing

Primary functions: Hydration, absorption and autolytic debridement

Composition: Purified water, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and calcium alginate

Suitable wound condition: Necrotic and sloughy wounds

Typical exudate level: Dry to low exudate

Secondary dressing required: Yes

Removal: Rinse with physiological saline or clean tap water

Recommended change frequency for necrotic/sloughy wounds: At least every 3 days

Sterile: Yes

Single use: Yes

Current UK sizes and codes

Purilon Gel – 8g

• Applicator size: 8g
• Coloplast product code: 3906
• PIP code: 270-1753
• NHS code: ELG010
• Available as:
  • Single 8g applicator
  • Box of 10 × 8g applicators

Purilon Gel – 15g

• Applicator size: 15g
• Coloplast product code: 3900
• PIP code: 242-9801
• NHS code: ELG003
• Available as:
  • Single 15g applicator
  • Box of 10 × 15g applicators

BNF / dm+d code: 20030500051

Manufacturer: Coloplast Ltd

Purilon Gel should be selected according to wound-bed condition, moisture requirements and exudate level. Chronic, diabetic, infected, vascular or otherwise complex wounds should be assessed and monitored by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.