ALGISITE M Calcium Alginate Dressing

ALGISITE M is a sterile, highly absorbent calcium alginate wound dressing designed for the management of moderately to heavily exuding wounds and wounds prone to minor bleeding.

Made from non-woven, high mannuronic acid alginate fibres derived from seaweed, ALGISITE M absorbs wound exudate and forms a soft hydrophilic gel over the wound surface. This helps maintain a moist wound environment while allowing the dressing to conform closely to the wound bed.

The specialised bonding process gives the dressing good wet strength and helps minimise fibre shedding, supporting clean and straightforward removal.

Key features:

• Sterile calcium alginate wound dressing
• Made from natural, high mannuronic acid alginate fibres
• Highly absorbent
• Hydrophilic fibres can absorb up to approximately 10 times their own weight in fluid
• Forms a soft gel on contact with wound exudate
• Suitable for moderately to heavily exuding wounds
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment
• Can assist with the control of minor bleeding
• Soft and conformable
• Good wet strength
• Low fibre-shedding construction
• Designed to allow removal substantially in one piece
• Can be cut or folded to fit the wound
• Rope version available for deep or undermined wounds
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• May remain in place for up to 7 days, depending on wound condition and exudate
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

How ALGISITE M works:

ALGISITE M consists of highly absorbent non-woven alginate fibres.

When the dressing comes into contact with wound moisture or exudate:

1. The alginate fibres absorb wound fluid.
2. The fibres swell and form a soft hydrophilic gel.
3. Excess fluid is retained within the dressing.
4. The gel remains in close contact with the wound surface.
5. The moist environment supports normal wound-healing processes.
6. The dressing retains sufficient integrity to facilitate removal.

The gel formation can also help minimise adherence to delicate newly forming tissue.

Suitable wound types:

The manufacturer's current indications specifically include:

• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Venous leg ulcers
• Wounds with moderate to heavy exudate
• Wounds prone to minor bleeding

ALGISITE M is also commonly used by healthcare professionals in the management of appropriate exuding:

• Surgical wounds
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Traumatic wounds
• Other partial- or full-thickness wounds

Use should be based on professional wound assessment and the underlying cause of the wound must also be appropriately treated.

Minor bleeding:

Calcium alginate dressings can assist in the management of minor wound bleeding.

However, ALGISITE M is not designed to control severe or uncontrolled bleeding.

It must not be used:

• As a surgical sponge
• As a substitute for appropriate haemostatic treatment
• To achieve haemostasis in a heavily bleeding wound

Significant or persistent bleeding requires urgent clinical assessment.

How to use:

ALGISITE M is intended for use by healthcare professionals.

1. Cleanse the wound according to the appropriate local clinical protocol.
2. Select a dressing slightly larger than the wound.
3. Apply ALGISITE M directly to the wound bed.
4. Ensure the dressing makes close contact with the entire wound surface.
5. The dressing is not intended to extend significantly beyond the wound margins.
6. Any excess material may be:
   • Cut away, or
   • Folded back over the wound surface.
7. Cover ALGISITE M with an appropriate secondary dressing.
8. Secure according to the wound location and clinical treatment plan.

The secondary dressing should be selected according to the amount of exudate and should allow appropriate moisture-vapour transfer, particularly where exudate levels are high.

Deep, undermined and cavity wounds:

For deeper or undermined wounds, the ALGISITE M Rope 2cm × 30cm may be more appropriate.

The rope can be gently positioned within:

• Cavity wounds
• Undermined areas
• Appropriate sinus-type wounds

Do not pack the wound excessively tightly.

At each dressing change, ensure that all dressing material placed within the cavity has been completely removed.

Dressing-change frequency:

Change frequency depends on:

• Amount of wound exudate
• Wound condition
• Condition of the secondary dressing
• Progress of healing

Smith+Nephew advises that ALGISITE M may generally require:

• Daily changes for heavily exuding wounds
• Reducing to approximately twice-weekly changes as exudate decreases and healing progresses

The dressing may remain in place for up to 7 days where wound condition and exudate levels allow.

Change sooner if:

• The secondary dressing becomes saturated
• Wound fluid begins to pool
• Leakage occurs
• The dressing becomes displaced
• The wound requires reassessment
• Infection or deterioration is suspected

Removal:

ALGISITE M has good wet strength and can normally be gently lifted from the wound using:

• A gloved hand
• Sterile forceps
• Tweezers appropriate for wound care

The gelled dressing will generally remain sufficiently intact for removal in one piece.

If the dressing has adhered to the wound, particularly where exudate has become very low:

1. Saturate the dressing with sterile normal saline.
2. Allow it to soften.
3. Remove gently.

Do not forcibly remove a dry or adhered alginate dressing from delicate healing tissue.

Important information:

Do not use ALGISITE M in patients with a known:

• Allergy or hypersensitivity to alginate dressings

Monitor the wound and surrounding skin for:

• Irritation
• Maceration
• Hypergranulation
• Sensitivity

If these occur, reassess the wound and consider discontinuing treatment.

Dry and very lightly exuding wounds:

ALGISITE M requires moisture to gel effectively.

It is therefore primarily intended for moderately to heavily exuding wounds.

On very lightly exuding wounds the dressing may dry out and adhere to the wound bed.

A different wound dressing may be more appropriate where there is insufficient exudate.

Infection:

ALGISITE M is not an antimicrobial dressing.

If the wound becomes infected, infection should be treated according to the appropriate clinical protocol.

Seek clinical review if there is:

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

For wounds requiring an antimicrobial alginate dressing, Smith+Nephew also produces the separate ALGISITE Ag range.

Rare hypercalcaemia precaution:

In very rare cases, use of alginate dressings over large surface areas has been associated with hypercalcaemia.

Large or complex wounds should therefore be managed and monitored by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

Single-use information:

ALGISITE M is:

• Sterile
• Individually packaged
• Single use only

Once an individual dressing has been opened:

• Do not retain unused dressing material for later application
• Do not reuse
• Do not re-sterilise

Reuse may result in cross-contamination and ineffective therapy.

Storage:

• Store at or below 25°C
• Keep in the original packaging until required
• Do not use if the sterile packaging is damaged
• Do not use after the stated expiry date

Product type: Calcium Alginate Wound Dressing

Material: Non-woven calcium alginate fibres

Alginate type: High mannuronic acid / high M-type

Exudate level: Moderate to high

Forms gel with exudate: Yes

Suitable for minor bleeding: Yes

Suitable for severe bleeding: No

Secondary dressing required: Yes

Can be cut: Yes

Maximum wear time: Up to 7 days, depending on wound condition

Sterile: Yes

Single use: Yes

Current UK sizes and codes

ALGISITE M – 5cm × 5cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66000519
• PIP code: 255-1117
• NHS code: ELS089
• BNF / dm+d code: 20030200075

ALGISITE M – 10cm × 10cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66000520
• PIP code: 255-1125
• NHS code: ELS090
• BNF / dm+d code: 20030200076

ALGISITE M – 15cm × 20cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66000521
• PIP code: 255-1133
• NHS code: ELS091
• BNF / dm+d code: 20030200077

ALGISITE M Rope – 2cm × 30cm

• Format: 2g rope / cavity dressing
• Pack size: 5
• Smith+Nephew code: 66000522
• PIP code: 259-5049
• NHS code: ELS092
• BNF / dm+d code: 20030800010

Manufacturer: Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd

ALGISITE M should be selected according to wound depth, exudate level and overall wound-management requirements. Moderately to heavily exuding, bleeding, diabetic, vascular, infected or otherwise complex wounds should be assessed and monitored by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

Product Information Leaflet