Exudate can be defined as fluid leaking from a wound. It plays a central role in healing (Romanell et al, 2010). Effective exudate management can reduce healing time, reduce exudate related problems such as peri wound skin damage and infection, improve patients’ quality of life, reduce dressing change frequency and clinician input, and generally improve healthcare efficiency (Romanell et al, 2010).

Exudate management is a challenge for any healthcare team as well as for the patient and despite a number of products being available, many patients still feel that exudate management is a significant problem, particularly for cavity wounds (Jones, 2008). Chronic wounds are prone to higher levels of exudate due to the volume of tissue loss and the potential for increased bacterial burden (Timmons, 2008). Alginate dressings have been available for a number of years and can play a major role in the management of wound exudate for a wide number of wound types.

A high gelling alginate dressing has now been developed with improved performance characteristics that will result in reduced dressing change frequency, thus having a dual benefit to both the patient and clinician. The improvements in the dressings’ performance have been measured via a number of in-vitro laboratory tests to determine what clinical advantages it may potentially offer.