Aquacel AG Dressing Instructions - Informational Tips

Aquacel AG dressing instructions should be followed closely so that wounds will have the best chance at healing. Whenever dealing with Aquacel dressing for surgical wounds, the first step should always be to give your hands a good wash with soap and water. You don’t want any of the bacteria or dirt on your hands coming near an open wound. Using a wound cleanser and cleaning in and around the wound should be done next. A specifically designed wound cleanser will help get rid of any debris from the bed of the wound. Not only does it create a moist healing environment for the wound, but it will also speed up how fast the wound will heal.

Aquacel AG Dressing Instructions

It’s important to note that when you’re dealing with wounds, the process should be overlooked by a healthcare professional. Any questions you have can be quickly answered, and the best outcome will result in following the recommended guidelines.

Shallow wounds

For shallow wounds, you will want the dressing to overlap around the area of the wound by about half an inch. As Aquacel is applied, it will generally shrink once the absorption process begins.

Deep Wounds

If you’re dealing with deeper wounds, then they might need packing gauze. Leave an excess of about 1 inch surrounding the wound so that the removal will be easier. If you’re using a product like Aquacel AG ribbon with the strengthening fiber in it, you’ll only need to put it into deeper wounds at around 80%. This is because the gauze will swell up once it starts to absorb the fluid from the wound. If in doubt, check with your healthcare professional regarding supplies and instructions.

How To Hold Aquacel In Place Better

Applying a secondary dressing is recommended to hold Aquacel in place better. Aquacel AG doesn’t contain an adhesive surrounding it, so applying the secondary dressing must be done to hold the Aquacel AG from moving around. Keep in mind that the secondary dressing still needs to keep the wound moist. ConvaTec DuoDerm Signal is one such product that works well with Aquacel AG dressings. DuoDerm is an adhesive product that comes with a tapered edge, and it signals once the bandage has gotten to the point where it’s absorbed a lot of fluid from the wound.

There is an indicator line on the bandage that will let you know when it’s time to swap over the bandage. The film around the edge and adhesive on DuoDerm will prevent any bacteria, dirt, water, and viruses from getting a chance to infect the wound.

When Do You Change Aquacel Dressings?

Like many other wound dressings, Aquacel dressing for surgical wounds needs to be changed around the seven-day mark after it has been applied. The dressing that covers the Aquacel dressing should be changed around every two or three days. If you notice that it might need to be changed before that, it’s recommended to do so. When the fluid from the wound starts to lower in quantity, the dressing can stay there longer. When you notice the wound dressing is saturated, that’s a tell-tale sign that it should be changed. Another thing to look for is if the wound dressing starts to curl up, which also is an indicator that it should be changed.

If you start to notice leaking around the wound, blood or experiencing more pain than usual, then it’s suggested that you remove the dressing and look at it. Wounds should be monitored very often for signs of infection. If you happen to notice any excess dressing particles around or in the wound, use a wound cleanser to clean them out. If you’re trying to remove the wound dressing and notice that it’s very dry and hard, apply some sterile water to moisten it. Doing this will make it easier to remove the dressing. This process can sometimes take a few minutes to do, but it is easier and safer in the long run. Tap water shouldn’t be used on wounds.

When Should You Contact Your Healthcare Professional?

There are several things to keep an eye out for throughout the wound healing process:

  • Any drainage in or around the wound that is of a different color.

  • Any redness around the area of the wound, and if the redness progresses further.

  • Feeling a warmth sensation in or around the wound area.

  • If you notice any extra pain in the wound area.

  • If you begin to notice different odors from the wound.

  • If you notice a spike in glucose levels.

If you or someone you know begins to experience any of these things, it’s recommended to contact your healthcare professional. These things can indicate that a wound might be infected, and ignoring the signs of an infection can lead to further complications. Carefully tending to your wound and constant monitoring can help prevent complications of infection.

Differences Between Aquacel Extra and Aquacel AG Extra

Wound vac instructions should always be carefully followed, and Aquacel Extra and Aquacel AG extra are two wound dressings that have a few differences.

  • Aquacel AG Extra contains 1.2% ionic silver, whereas Aquacel Extra doesn’t. The ionic silver is an ingredient that is supposed to help the wound healing process, combat against any infections, and lower the pain experienced in and around the wound. Ionic silver decreases the chances of yeasts or bacteria from getting a chance to infect the wound.

  • AG extra is around nine times more powerful, with a 50% higher absorption rate. Both of these dressings are created from Hydrofiber technology, so both are efficient in healing wounds. 

The fibers in Aquacel have the purpose of keeping fluid from wounds locked in. The fibers will swell up, and they create micro contours. In effect, this will help all parts of the wound being covered by the bandage. Convatec also put in horizontal strengthening fibers in Aquacel to make it a more robust and stronger bandage. 

One nice thing to note about Aquacel AG is that it can be cut in any direction you want. This means that if your wound is an uneven shape, there won’t be much bandage waste. Ensure that you use sterilized scissors to cut the dressing, as contamination to the dressing could occur.