A snapshot of the products you may use in practice.

HYDROGELS

Action

Hydrogels are water- or glycerin-based amorphous gels, impregnated gauzes, or sheet dressings. Because of their high water content, some cannot absorb large amounts of exudate. Hydrogels help maintain a moist wound environment, promote granulation and epithelialization, and facilitate autolytic debridement.

Indications

For use as primary dressings (amorphous gels, impregnated gauzes) or as primary or secondary dressings (sheets); to manage partial- and full-thickness wounds, deep wounds (amorphous gels, impregnated gauzes), wounds with necrosis or slough, minor burns, and tissue damaged by radiation.

FIGURE

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Advantages

* Soothing and reduce pain

* Rehydrate the wound bed

* Facilitate autolytic debridement

* Fill in dead space (amorphous gels, impregnated gauzes)

* Provide minimal to moderate absorption

* Applied and removed easily from the wound

* Can be used when infection is present

Disadvantages

* Usually not recommended for wounds with heavy exudate

* Dehydrate easily if not covered

* Some require secondary dressing

* Some may be difficult to secure

* Some may cause maceration

Source: Hess CT. Clinical Guide: Wound Care. Fourth Edition. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation; 2002:275-6.