Alginates

Product comparison

Overview

Alginate dressings are highly absorptive, non-occlusive dressings made of soft, non-woven calcium alginate fibers derived from brown seaweed or kelp. Alginate dressings are available as a primary dressing in pad or rope form. These dressings gel on contact with wound exudate, allowing for a moist wound environment and promoting autolytic debridement.

Features

Alginate dressings feature the following general performance properties and attributes:
• Atraumatic removal
• Non-occlusive
• Can be cut to fit
• Can be layered for more absorption
• Bioabsorbable
• Can absorb up to 20 times their weight in exudate

Indications

Alginate dressings are indicated for use as a primary dressing in the treatment of moderately to heavily exuding partial- and full-thickness draining wounds such as stage III-IV pressure ulcers, dermal wounds, surgical incisions, dehisced wounds, tunneling wounds, sinus tracts, and donor sites. Alginates that contain silver can be used to manage infected wounds. Alginates can also provide hemostasis for postoperative wounds with minimal bleeding.

Contraindications

Alginate dressings are contraindicated for use on dry eschar, third-degree burns, for surgical implantation, or wounds with heavy bleeding.

Warnings

The following general warnings apply to alginate dressings. Always refer to manufacturer information for Warnings and Precautions for a specific product.

May dehydrate wound bed.
Not appropriate for dry wounds.
Due to low tensile strength, avoid packing in narrow, deep sinuses.
May require secondary dressing to secure.
May be malodorous during dressing change.
May leave fibers in wound bed if drainage is insufficient to fully gel the product.

Reimbursement Information

Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes
A6196 – Pad size less than or equal to 16 in²
A6197 – Pad size more than 16 in2 but less than or equal to 48 in²
A6198 – Pad size more than 48 in²
A6199 – Alginate dressing for wound filler, per 6 inches

Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Coverage Guidelines by Jurisdiction
Jurisdictions A, B, C and D:
Alginate or other fiber gelling dressing covers are covered for moderately to highly exudative full thickness wounds (e.g., stage III or IV ulcers); and alginate or other fiber gelling dressing fillers for moderately to highly exudative full thickness wound cavities (e.g., stage III or IV ulcers). They are not medically necessary on dry wounds or wounds covered with eschar. Usual dressing change is up to once per day. One wound cover sheet of the approximate size of the wound or up to 2 units of wound filler (1 unit = 6 inches of alginate or other fiber gelling dressing rope) is usually used at each dressing change. It is usually inappropriate to use alginates or other fiber gelling dressings in combination with hydrogels.

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