Kaltostat Calcium Sodium Alginate Dressings

Kaltostat is a sterile, highly absorbent calcium sodium alginate wound dressing designed for the management of moderately to highly exuding acute and chronic wounds, including wounds with minor bleeding.

Made from calcium sodium alginate fibres, Kaltostat absorbs wound exudate and gradually changes from a dry fibrous dressing into a firm, moist gel. This helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment while allowing the dressing to retain its integrity for gentle removal.

Kaltostat also has haemostatic properties, helping support clot formation and control minor wound bleeding.

Key features:

• Calcium sodium alginate wound dressing
• Contains approximately 80% calcium and 20% sodium alginate
• High guluronic acid content
• Suitable for moderately to highly exuding wounds
• Highly absorbent
• Forms a firm, moist gel on contact with wound exudate
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment
• Helps support autolytic debridement
• Maintains good integrity when wet
• Designed for gentle, atraumatic removal
• Haemostatic properties
• Helps control minor wound bleeding
• Can be cut or folded to suit the wound
• Rope presentation available for cavity wounds
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• Latex-free
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

How Kaltostat works

Kaltostat contains calcium sodium alginate fibres.

When the dressing comes into contact with wound exudate:

1. Calcium ions within the dressing exchange with sodium ions in the wound fluid.
2. The dressing absorbs the exudate.
3. The dry fibres gradually transform into a firm, moist gel.
4. The gel maintains close contact with the wound surface.
5. A moist environment is maintained to support normal wound-healing processes.
6. The dressing retains sufficient structural integrity to facilitate removal.

Kaltostat also provides a matrix that can support blood clot formation, giving it useful haemostatic properties for wounds with minor bleeding.

Suitable wound types

Kaltostat may be used as a primary dressing for moderately to highly exuding wounds including:

• Leg ulcers
• Venous leg ulcers
• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Diabetic ulcers
• Fungating wounds
• Donor sites
• Abrasions
• Lacerations
• Traumatic wounds
• Post-surgical wounds
• Wounds following surgical debridement
• Other moderately to highly exuding acute or chronic wounds
• Wounds with minor bleeding

The underlying cause of chronic wounds should also be appropriately assessed and managed.

For example:

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

How to use

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

1. Cleanse the wound carefully with sterile saline or according to the prescribed wound-care protocol.
2. Dry the surrounding skin.
3. Select an appropriate Kaltostat dressing.
4. Cut or fold the dressing to the shape of the wound if necessary.
5. Apply Kaltostat dry, directly onto the wound bed.
6. Ensure appropriate contact between the dressing and wound surface.
7. Cover with a suitable secondary dressing.
8. Secure according to wound location and exudate level.

For highly exuding wounds, an additional absorbent secondary dressing may be required.

Secondary dressing

Kaltostat is a primary wound dressing and normally requires a secondary dressing.

The secondary dressing should be selected according to:

• Exudate level
• Wound size
• Wound location
• Condition of the surrounding skin
• Required fixation

For highly exuding wounds, use an appropriately absorbent secondary dressing.

Kaltostat Rope

Kaltostat Rope 2g is designed for appropriate:

• Cavity wounds
• Deep wounds
• Undermined wounds
• Other wounds where packing with a conformable alginate dressing is clinically appropriate

When using Kaltostat Rope:

1. Gently position the dressing within the cavity.
2. Do not tightly over-pack the wound.
3. Leave sufficient material accessible to allow complete removal.
4. Apply an appropriate secondary dressing.

At each dressing change, ensure all dressing material has been removed.

Minor bleeding

Kaltostat has useful haemostatic properties and can help control minor bleeding.

The calcium alginate dressing provides a matrix that supports clot formation.

It may therefore be particularly useful following:

• Wound debridement
• Minor trauma
• Donor-site procedures
• Other wounds prone to superficial bleeding

Kaltostat should not be relied upon for significant or uncontrolled bleeding.

Persistent or heavy bleeding requires appropriate clinical assessment and haemostatic treatment.

Dressing changes

Dressing-change frequency depends on:

• Wound exudate
• Wound condition
• Degree of saturation
• Condition of the secondary dressing
• Clinical assessment

Change Kaltostat when:

• Its absorbent capacity has been reached
• The secondary dressing becomes saturated
• Leakage occurs
• The wound requires reassessment
• The dressing becomes displaced

Where clinically appropriate, Kaltostat may remain in place for up to 7 days, although highly exuding wounds are likely to require more frequent dressing changes.

If Kaltostat is being used primarily to control bleeding, reassess the wound once haemostasis has been achieved.

Removal

Kaltostat normally forms a firm moist gel while retaining sufficient integrity for gentle removal.

To remove:

1. Remove the secondary dressing.
2. Gently lift Kaltostat from the wound.
3. If the dressing has dried or adhered, moisten it thoroughly with sterile saline.
4. Allow it to soften before removal.

Do not forcibly remove dried alginate dressing from fragile healing tissue.

Dry wounds

Kaltostat requires wound exudate to form its characteristic gel.

It is therefore not generally suitable for dry or minimally exuding wounds or wounds covered with dry, hard necrotic tissue.

An alternative dressing designed to provide hydration may be more appropriate for these wounds.

Infection

Kaltostat is not an antimicrobial dressing.

If infection is present or suspected, the wound should be assessed and treated according to the appropriate clinical protocol.

Signs requiring clinical assessment may include:

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

Kaltostat does not replace appropriate treatment of wound infection.

Important information

Do not:

• Use on very dry wounds where there is insufficient moisture for the dressing to gel
• Use as the sole treatment for significant or uncontrolled bleeding
• Over-pack cavity wounds
• Reuse
• Re-sterilise
• Use if the sterile packaging is damaged or previously opened
• Use after the expiry date

Product type: Calcium Sodium Alginate Wound Dressing

Composition: Approximately 80% calcium / 20% sodium alginate

Alginate characteristic: High guluronic acid content

Exudate level: Moderate to high

Forms gel with exudate: Yes

Haemostatic: Yes – helps control minor bleeding

Antimicrobial: No

Can be cut or folded: Yes

Cavity presentation available: Yes

Secondary dressing required: Yes

Latex-free: Yes

Sterile: Yes

Single use: Yes

Current UK sizes and codes

Kaltostat – 5cm × 5cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1004
• PIP code: 007-0789
• NHS code: ELS229

Kaltostat – 7.5cm × 12cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1000
• PIP code: 022-7033
• NHS code: ELS231

Kaltostat – 10cm × 20cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1001
• PIP code: 022-7058
• NHS code: ELS027

Kaltostat – 15cm × 25cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1002
• PIP code: 022-7066
• NHS code: ELS028

Kaltostat Rope – 2g

• Pack size: 5 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1003
• PIP code: 022-7074
• NHS code: ELS241

Kaltostat – 30cm × 60cm

• Hospital-only presentation
• Pack size: 5 dressings
• ConvaTec product code: 1005
• PIP code: 022-8999
• NHS code: ELS237

Manufacturer: ConvaTec Ltd

Kaltostat should be selected according to wound type, depth, exudate level and bleeding risk. Chronic, diabetic, arterial, infected, bleeding or otherwise complex wounds should be assessed and monitored by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.