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
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.