SORBSAN Silver Packing

CRITICAL PACKING SAFETY: Sorbsan Silver Packing must be introduced loosely into the wound cavity. Never pack tightly. Overpacking prevents wound contraction and damages granulation tissue. Always leave a visible tail of the packing outside the wound entrance. Confirm and document full retrieval at every dressing change before introducing new packing.

An infected or critically colonised cavity wound presents a triple clinical challenge: the cavity requires packing to maintain wound contact and manage exudate at depth, the microbial burden within the cavity must be addressed to allow healing to proceed, and the clinician must assess the cavity dimensions accurately to select the correct packing volume and monitor healing progress. A single product that addresses all three simultaneously reduces the number of steps in the wound care procedure. Sorbsan Silver Packing is a sterile silver alginate cavity packing from Aspen Medical Europe, supplied with a sterile medical probe. 30cm packing. Pack of 5. No prescription required.

Sorbsan Silver Packing is a regulated medical device from Aspen Medical Europe. Each pack contains five individually sealed units, and each unit includes one 30cm silver alginate packing rope and one sterile medical probe of 12.5cm.

The silver alginate packing rope is a cavity dressing that combines three clinical functions. The calcium alginate component absorbs wound exudate through an ion exchange process, converting from a fibrous rope to a soft gel within the wound cavity and managing exudate at depth while maintaining a moist wound environment. The silver component releases antimicrobial silver ions when the dressing is moistened by wound fluid, providing broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria at the wound cavity surface. The calcium ions released during the alginate ion exchange also contribute mild haemostatic properties at the wound surface.

The sterile medical probe included in each unit is a clinical tool for measuring wound cavity depth before and after packing. Accurate cavity depth measurement is essential for safe cavity wound packing: the clinician needs to know how deep the cavity is to determine how much packing to introduce and to monitor whether the cavity is contracting over successive dressing changes. Using the included sterile probe at each dressing change provides a direct measurement of cavity progress without the need for a separate sterile probe from another source.

As with all Sorbsan cavity packing products, Sorbsan Silver Packing must be introduced loosely, a retrieval tail must always be left outside the wound entrance, the length introduced must be documented at each change, and full retrieval must be confirmed before new packing is introduced. A secondary dressing is required over the wound entrance.

Sorbsan Silver Packing should be used for a defined clinical period based on the signs of infection or critical colonisation that prompted its use. Review the wound at each dressing change. When clinical signs of infection have resolved, consider transitioning to standard Sorbsan Packing without silver. Prolonged use of silver dressings without clinical review is not recommended.

Calcium Alginate Ion Exchange in the Cavity

The calcium alginate fibres in the packing rope absorb wound exudate produced within the cavity through ion exchange. Sodium ions from wound fluid displace calcium ions from the alginate binding sites, converting the rope from a fibrous dry material into a soft gel within the cavity. This gel absorbs and manages the exudate at wound depth, prevents fluid accumulation within the cavity, and maintains a moist wound environment throughout the cavity volume. The gel state at dressing change allows the packing to be retrieved from the cavity without firm adherence to the cavity walls.

Silver Ion Release and Antimicrobial Activity

Silver incorporated into the alginate rope is released as silver ions when the dressing contacts wound moisture during the ion exchange process. These silver ions diffuse into the wound environment within the cavity and act on bacteria through multiple mechanisms, disrupting bacterial cell membranes, interfering with bacterial enzyme systems, and binding to bacterial DNA. This activity through multiple targets provides broad spectrum antimicrobial coverage within the wound cavity throughout the dressing wear period. Sustained silver ion release from the alginate reservoir addresses the microbial burden at wound depth, where topical antimicrobial penetration from external sources may be limited.

The Sterile Medical Probe

The 12.5cm sterile medical probe included in each Sorbsan Silver Packing unit allows the clinician to measure wound cavity depth at each dressing change. Using the probe before introducing the packing rope helps determine the appropriate length of packing to use. Using it at subsequent dressing changes tracks whether the cavity depth is reducing as healing progresses. A reducing cavity depth on successive measurements confirms that the wound is contracting appropriately, which is the expected outcome of effective cavity wound management. The probe is sterile and single use.

Haemostatic Property

Calcium ions released during the alginate ion exchange contribute to the coagulation process at the wound surface. The mild haemostatic effect of the calcium alginate component may be useful in infected cavity wounds that ooze at dressing change. This is a supplementary benefit of the calcium component alongside the primary gel forming, antimicrobial, and exudate management functions.

Assessment with the Sterile Probe

• Open one sterile Sorbsan Silver Packing unit at the dressing change.
• Use the included sterile medical probe (12.5cm) to measure wound cavity depth before introducing the packing.
• Record the measured cavity depth at each dressing change to monitor healing progress.

Wound Preparation

• Irrigate the wound cavity with sterile saline before introducing the packing.
• If the cavity is dry, moisten the packing rope with sterile saline before introduction.

Introducing the Packing

• Gently guide the 30cm silver alginate rope into the cavity.
• Pack LOOSELY. Do not compress or overfill the cavity.
• Leave a visible tail of the rope outside the wound entrance.
• Document the length introduced and the cavity depth measurement at each change.

RETRIEVAL SAFETY: Count the pieces of packing introduced. Confirm full retrieval at every dressing change before introducing new packing. Document both the cavity depth and the packing length at each change. Retained packing in a wound cavity is a clinical incident.

Secondary Dressing

• Apply an appropriate secondary dressing over the wound entrance.
• Secure in place.

Removal

• Remove the secondary dressing first.
• Gently pull the retrieval tail to remove the packing from the cavity.
• If not fully gelled, moisten with sterile saline before retrieval.
• Confirm full retrieval against the documented length from the previous change.
• Irrigate the cavity with sterile saline before introducing fresh packing.

Sorbsan Silver Packing: Pack of 5

Each box contains five sterile individually sealed units. Each unit provides one 30cm silver alginate packing rope and one sterile medical probe of 12.5cm. The 30cm packing rope is appropriate for most standard infected cavity wound dimensions. The rope may be cut to a shorter length where required, with the cut length documented. The sterile probe is single use per application.

Critical Packing Safety Requirements

• Pack loosely. Never tightly.
• Leave a visible tail outside the wound entrance at all times.
• Document the length introduced and the number of pieces at each change.
• Confirm full retrieval before introducing new packing.

Silver Use Requirements

• Use for a defined clinical period based on infection or critical colonisation signs.
• Review the clinical need at each dressing change.
• Transition to standard Sorbsan Packing when infection signs have resolved.

When Not to Use

• Dry cavities with no exudate.
• Cavities where full retrieval cannot be guaranteed.
• Known sensitivity to silver or alginate materials derived from seaweed.

Adverse Effects

• Retained packing if retrieval is not confirmed.
• Pressure necrosis if packed too tightly.
• Silver related skin staining, typically superficial.
• Sensitivity to silver or alginate in susceptible individuals.

Wound Situations Where Sorbsan Silver Packing Is Appropriate

• Infected or critically colonised cavity wounds where both exudate management at depth and antimicrobial activity within the cavity are required simultaneously
• Deep pressure ulcer cavities with signs of infection and moderate to heavy exudate
• Surgical wound dehiscences with wound infection producing exudate
• Any exuding infected cavity wound where the clinical team has determined that antimicrobial cavity packing is part of the wound management plan

Comparing the Silver Packing with Standard Sorbsan Packing

Standard Sorbsan Packing (30cm rope) provides calcium alginate gel forming exudate management and haemostatic properties for clean exuding cavity wounds without infection. Sorbsan Silver Packing adds silver antimicrobial activity to the same cavity packing format, making it the appropriate choice when infection or critical colonisation is identified within the cavity alongside the need for exudate management. Both include a sterile probe for cavity measurement. When infection resolves, transitioning to standard Sorbsan Packing is appropriate to complete the wound healing phase.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antimicrobial cavity dressings should be used when clinical signs indicate infection or critical colonisation within the cavity. Review the wound at each change. When infection signs have resolved, and the cavity is progressing toward closure with clean granulation tissue, standard Sorbsan Packing is more appropriate for the ongoing healing phase. Regular cavity depth measurement with the included sterile probe supports objective monitoring of wound progress.

Sorbsan Silver Packing does not require a prescription. The pack of five units is available from Pharmacy Planet without a clinical consultation.

Our pharmacists can advise on Sorbsan Silver Packing and on selecting between standard Sorbsan Packing and the silver version for different wound presentations.

For deeply infected cavity wounds, wounds with systemic infection signs, or cavities not responding to silver packing treatment, seek clinical assessment from a tissue viability nurse or wound care specialist.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat and sunlight.
• Do not store above 25 degrees C.
• Keep in original sealed packaging until immediately before use.
• Do not use if the packaging seal of an individual unit is broken.
• Check expiry date before use.
• Keep out of reach of children.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy. Sorbsan Silver Packing is a genuine Aspen Medical Europe product stocked through regulated UK supply chains.

Our pharmacists can advise on Sorbsan Silver Packing and on the full Sorbsan range for surface and cavity wound management with and without silver.

References

1. Aspen Medical Europe. Sorbsan Silver Packing. REF AG1411. Aspen Medical Europe. https://www.aspenmedicaleurope.com. Accessed June 2026.
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Wound care products: selection and prescribing. https://www.nice.org.uk. Accessed June 2026.
3. NHS. Wound management: cavity wounds and infection. NHS England. https://www.england.nhs.uk. Accessed June 2026.
4. Wounds UK. Best Practice Statement: Antimicrobial stewardship in wound management. https://www.wounds-uk.com. Accessed June 2026.