Description
The original Sorbsan dressing trusted by nurses since 1983, is a non-woven calcium alginate dressing known for its absorbency, conformability and haemostatic properties. When applied to the wound, Sorbsan forms an amorphous gel which can be irrigated away from the wound with normal saline 0.9% for pain free removal.
For deeper cavity wounds and sinuses, the ribbon forms are generally preferred. The dressing also appears to be of value as an adjunct to the systemic treatment of infected or malodorous wounds and for the management of painful wounds when removal of other more traditional dressings causes unacceptable levels of pain or trauma.
When to use Sorbsan:
Sorbsan may be used on wounds where there is a moderate to high level of exudate. However, if the wound is not producing high enough exudate levels to gel the Sorbsan fibres, it may be appropriate to change to a different dressing type. Sorbsan is generally suitable for the management of:
- Partial thickness and full thickness wounds
- Arterial, venous, and diabetic leg ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Post-operative wounds
- Fungating lesions
- Following toe-nail avulsions
- Pressure ulcers
- Donor and graft sites
- Traumatic wounds