Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Venous Leg Ulcer Dressing Treatment

Must read

Venous Ulcer Wound Treatment

Venous Stasis Ulcer Treatment

The veins are responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the tissue capillaries. Venous blood contains high levels of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste collected from the disposed tissues, and the blood is reoxygenated as it flows through the entire circulatory system. The veins help dispose of around 90% of waste fluid, provided there is no incompetence present.

The venous system has three types of veins, deep, superficial, and perforating. The deep veins lie within the muscles, are parallel to a neighboring artery, and are responsible for carrying 80-90% of the blood back to the heart. Using the muscles, helps with a significant venous return by reducing the pressure on the vein walls from the volume of blood within as the muscles contract, it pushes the blood along the vein towards the heart, reducing the venous pressures. Superficial veins lie within the more superficial tissues and are responsible for draining the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The pressure in the superficial veins is less than in deeper veins. Perforating veins connect the deep and superficial veins throughout the lower leg.

Venous leg ulcers occur due to venous insufficiency in the adult population. Venous leg ulcers are accountable for significant prevalence among all leg ulcerations. Treatment includes leg elevation, compression, and proper wound care. It’s essential to have any venous ulcers checked right away by your wound care specialist.

How Did You Implement The Project

Education and guidance was offered to all wound care clinicians. This covered information on how to use the pathway, appropriate product selection at the ideal time, and for the correct duration. This was coupled with a pathway launch day. Subsequent supportive visits from the tissue viability team and clinical specialist have taken place.

To support continuity, the leg ulcer pathway was designed as a booklet for use in all settings, for example at home in leg ulcer clinics district nurse clinics. It now contains QoL assessment tools, a treatment algorithm guidance for use, a leg ulcer assessment form and a wound treatment chart.

The data used for the analysis had been routinely collected for many years by the tissue viability team on a leg ulcer proforma. Verbal consent for treatment and use of data was gained from the patient. Any patient with a recurrence after a period of 2 weeks healed were included as a separate active ulcer. The inclusion criteria was patients with a completed leg ulcer clinic proforma who met the referral criteria, had an active leg ulcer, and attended their appointments.

We compared 2 periods of 12 months, the first was before the development of the leg ulcer pathway, and the second was a period of 12 months from the implementation date of the pathway.

Why It Is Important To Do This Review

Venous leg ulcers are a relatively common type of complex wound that have a negative impact on peoples lives and incur high costs for health services and society. Leg ulcers are painful, sometimes malodorous, prone to infection, and may severely affect people’s mobility and quality of life, and in severe cases, there is a risk of limb amputation. There are a number of treatments for venous leg ulcers, but many ulcers prove hard to heal, although healing is a key outcome for patients.

We conducted an open consultation with consumers to ask them which treatments for treating venous leg ulcers they would like to see considered. Respondents selfselected through their response to a short questionnaire posted on the Cochrane Wounds website and Facebook page. Although some identified compression as the main consideration, others mentioned specific types of dressings. These included many of the dressing types listed in , including charcoalcontaining dressings, dressings designed to reduce formation and presence of biofilms and dressings with antimicrobial properties and debriding actions. Also specifically identified as being of interest was Unna’s boot a specialised dressing which consists of gauze wraps impregnated with zinc oxide and calamine, sometimes in combination with other agents.

A glossary of NMA terms is given in .

Recommended Reading: Snack Ideas For Ulcerative Colitis

Alginate Dressings For Venous Leg Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are a common and recurring type of chronic or complex wound which can be distressing for patients and costly to healthcare providers. Compression therapy, in the form of bandages or stockings, is considered to be the cornerstone of venous leg ulcer management. Dressings are applied underneath bandages or stockings with the aim of protecting the wound and providing a moist environment to aid healing. Alginate dressings contain substances derived from seaweed and are one of several types of wound dressings available. We evaluated the evidence from five randomised controlled trials that compared either different brands of alginate dressings, or alginate dressings with other types of dressings. In terms of wound healing, we found no good evidence to suggest that there is any difference between different brands of alginate dressings, nor between alginate dressings and hydrocolloid or plain non-adherent dressings. Adverse events were generally similar between treatment groups . Overall, the current evidence is of low quality. Further, good quality evidence is required before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding the use of alginate dressings in the management of venous leg ulcers.

To determine the effects of alginate dressings compared with alternative dressings, non-dressing treatments or no dressing, with or without concurrent compression therapy, on the healing of venous leg ulcers.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Venous Ulcers

Venous Stasis Ulcer Bandaging and Dressing

LAUREN COLLINS, MD, and SAMINA SERAJ, MD, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennslyvania

Am Fam Physician. 2010 Apr 15 81:989-996.

Patient information: See related handout on venous ulcers, written by the authors of this article.

Venous ulcers, or stasis ulcers, account for 80 percent of lower extremity ulcerations.1 Less common etiologies for lower extremity ulcerations include arterial insufficiency prolonged pressure diabetic neuropathy and systemic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, osteomyelitis, and skin malignancy.2 The overall prevalence of venous ulcers in the United States is approximately 1 percent.1 Venous ulcers are more common in women and older persons.36 The primary risk factors are older age, obesity, previous leg injuries, deep venous thrombosis, and phlebitis.7

Venous ulcers are often recurrent, and open ulcers can persist from weeks to many years.810 Severe complications include cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and malignant change.3 Although the overall prevalence is relatively low, the refractory nature of these ulcers increase the risk of morbidity and mortality, and have a significant impact on patient quality of life.11,12 The financial burden of venous ulcers is estimated to be $2 billion per year in the United States.13,14

Read Also: Symptoms Of Ulcer In Female

Can Leg Ulcers Be Prevented

To prevent and promote healing of ulcers:

  • Avoid injury, particularly when pushing a supermarket trolley. Consider protective shin splints.
  • Walk and exercise for at least an hour a day to keep the calf muscle pump working properly.
  • Lose weight if you are overweight.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Check your feet and legs regularly. Look for cracks, sores or changes in colour. Moisturise after bathing.
  • Wear comfortable well-fitting shoes and socks. Avoid socks with a tight garter or cuff. Check the inside of shoes for small stones or rough patches before you put them on.
  • If you have to stand for more than a few minutes, try to vary your stance as much as possible.
  • When sitting, wriggle your toes, move your feet up and down and take frequent walks.
  • Avoid sitting with your legs crossed. Put your feet up on a padded stool to reduce swelling.
  • Avoid extremes of temperature such as hot baths or sitting close to a heater. Keep cold feet warm with socks and slippers.
  • Consult a chiropodist or podiatrist to remove a callus or hard skin.
  • Wear at least Grade 2 support stockings if your doctor has advised these. This is particularly important for the post-thrombotic syndrome, leg swelling or discomfort, and for long-distance flights.
  • Have a vascular ultrasound assessment and consult a vascular surgeon to determine whether any vein treatment should be carried out.
  • Horse chestnut extract appears to be of benefit for at least some patients with venous disease.

What Is A Venous Leg Ulcer

venousulcerlegvenous leg ulcers

. Consequently, what causes a venous leg ulcer?

The cause of venous ulcers is high pressure in the veins of the lower leg. The veins have one-way valves that keep blood flowing up toward your heart. When these valves become weak or the veins become scarred and blocked, blood can flow backward and pool in your legs.

Secondly, what are the first signs of a leg ulcer? Symptoms of leg ulcers

  • open sores.
  • pus in the affected area.
  • pain in the affected area.
  • increasing wound size.
  • generalized pain or heaviness in the legs.

Also Know, what does an ulcer look like on the leg?

They are large, shallow ulcers with uneven edges that drain or weep a lot. You’ll likely see swelling in your leg, with red, itchy skin around the wound. You may also experience tightness in your calves, as well as aching, throbbing or a feeling of heaviness in your legs.

How do you treat a leg ulcer?

Treatment for leg ulcers

  • cleaning the wound â using wet and dry dressings and ointments, or surgery to remove the dead tissue.
  • specialised dressings â a whole range of products are available to help the various stages of wound healing.
  • occlusive dressings â ulcers heal better when they are covered.
  • You May Like: Is Ulcerative Colitis Considered An Autoimmune Disease

    Causes Of Venous Ulcers

    Venous ulcers most often form around the ankles.

    Venous ulcers typically occur because of damage to the valves inside the leg veins. These valves control the blood pressure inside the veins. They allow it to drop when you walk. If the blood pressure inside your leg veins doesn’t fall as you’re walking, the condition is called sustained venous hypertension. That increase in blood pressure causes ulcers to form on your ankles.

    Venous ulcers may also be caused by other problems with your leg veins. These include:

    • Varicose veins. These are large, bulging leg veins. They occur when valves in the leg veins dont work well, allowing blood to collect in the lower leg.

    • Chronic venous insufficiency. Like varicose veins, this condition occurs when your leg veins cant pump blood back up to your heart. Blood then pools in your lower legs, causing your legs to swell. Since the blood can’t flow well in your legs, the swelling may be extreme. This extreme swelling can put so much pressure on your skin that venous ulcers form.

    How Are Leg Ulcers Treated

    Treating Venous Leg Ulcers

    At Cleveland Clinic, patients are treated by a team of world-class experts in the Lower Extremity Wound Clinic in the Department of Vascular Medicine. This Clinic includes doctors, nurses and other medical specialists.

    These experts work together to determine the cause of the ulcer and develop an individualized treatment program.

    The goals of treatment are to relieve pain, speed recovery and heal the wound. Each patient’s treatment plan is individualized, based on the patient’s health, medical condition and ability to care for the wound.

    Treatment options for all ulcers may include:

    • Antibiotics, if an infection is present
    • Anti-platelet or anti-clotting medications to prevent a blood clot
    • Topical wound care therapies
    • Prosthetics or orthotics, available to restore or enhance normal lifestyle function

    Venous Ulcer Treatment

    Venous ulcers are treated with compression of the leg to minimize edema or swelling. Compression treatments include wearing compression stockings, multi-layer compression wraps, or wrapping an ACE bandage or dressing from the toes or foot to the area below the knee. The type of compression treatment prescribed is determined by the physician, based on the characteristics of the ulcer base and amount of drainage from the ulcer.

    The type of dressing prescribed for ulcers is determined by the type of ulcer and the appearance at the base of the ulcer. Types of dressings include:

    • Moist to moist dressings
    • Synthetic skin substitutes

    Arterial Ulcer Treatment

    Recommended Reading: How To Treat A Diabetic Ulcer

    What To Expect After Treatment With Cvm

    At CVM, we’re ready to help diagnose and treat your leg ulcers at our select wound care locations:

    Our expert team will carefully consider all potential chronic pelvic pain causes, with a special emphasis of diagnosing any potential vascular disorders.

    We provide complete chronic pelvic treatment for pain. Aside from implementing innovative techniques to treat your pain, including treatments for vascular issues, we’re committed to listening to your concerns and treating your pain seriously. Many of our patients go on to have significant improvement or resolution of their symptoms.

    Choosing More Effective Dressings And Medical Adhesives

    Wound dressings are key components of effective venous leg ulcer treatment. Using the right dressing and using a secure, gentle medical adhesive can help the patient be more comfortable, promote rapid healing, and reduce costs.1 Important considerations when choosing a dressing and medical adhesive for a venous leg ulcer include:

    With best practice wound management, it is possible to reduce the impact of venous leg ulcers, even in the most vulnerable populations. Secure wound dressings are essential in the management of exudate to support an optimal healing environment and contain exudate from moderately to heavily draining venous leg ulcers. Use of a strong, moisture-resistant medical tape plays a key role in the effective securement of wound dressings when managing venous leg ulcers. By choosing appropriate dressings based on the level of wound exudate, clinicians can support an optimal healing and can provide the best possible care while reducing costs and time spent changing dressings.

    Industry Voices is brought to you by health care industry sponsors. All content is developed and paid for by the sponsoring company. Kestrel Health Information, Inc. is not involved in the creation of this content. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of WoundSource, Kestrel Health Information, Inc., its affiliates, or subsidiary companies.

    Read Also: Foam Boots For Pressure Ulcers

    Why Does My Leg Ulcer Smell

    ulcersleg ulcersulcersthe odorThesmellingarethe

    Germina Woodland

    Symptoms of an infected leg ulcer can include:

  • worsening pain.
  • a green or unpleasant discharge coming from the ulcer.
  • redness and swelling of the skin around the ulcer.
  • a high temperature
  • skin ulcer looks likeskinskinlook

    Laudelina Muhlsteffen

    What Is Lower Extremity Venous Disease

    (PDF) Venous leg ulcer: Topical treatment, dressings and ...

    As blood flows into the veins of the LE, valves within the veins prevent a backflow of blood. The valves play an important role in the development of venous disease. The valves allow for a one-way upward blood flow back to the heart. It adds extra stress by traveling against gravity.

    When the valves become weak or incompetent, blood flows back into the veins, creating increased pressure in the venous system. This pressure distends or stretches the walls of the veins, causing the blood to pool. Chronic pressure from swelling on the venous system causes the heme in the red blood cells to leak into the skin. This is called hemosiderin deposits or staining. The LE becomes reddish-brown in color.

    Don’t Miss: How To Test For Ulcerative Colitis

    Develop Recommendations For Change Based On Evidence

    Based on the findings, it can be recommended to select the dressing type based on wound factors. Medicated foam dressing may be suggested for patients who need pain relief because the beneficial effects of such dressings may help to reduce the gastroenterological risks due to medicine intake . Non-medicated foam dressings can be recommended for the treatment of moist wounds not associated with significant pain.

    To obtain sufficient evidence, a comparative study of different products using randomly selected samples should be conducted.

    Translation

    Evaluation of outcomes based on morbidity statistics dissemination of findings

    Cleveland Clinic Heart Vascular & Thoracic Institute Vascular Medicine Specialists And Surgeons

    Choosing a doctor to treat your vascular disease depends on where you are in your diagnosis and treatment. The following Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Sections and Departments treat patients with all types of vascular disease, including blood clotting disorders:

    Section of Vascular Medicine: for evaluation, medical management or interventional procedures to treat vascular disease. In addition, the Non-Invasive Laboratory includes state-of-the art computerized imaging equipment to assist in diagnosing vascular disease, without added discomfort to the patient. Call Vascular Medicine Appointments, toll-free 800-223-2273, extension 44420 or request an appointment online.

    Department of Vascular Surgery: surgery evaluation for surgical treatment of vascular disease, including aorta, peripheral artery, and venous disease. Call Vascular Surgery Appointments, toll-free 800-223-2273, extension 44508 or request an appointment online.

    You may also use our MyConsult second opinion consultation using the Internet.

    The Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute also has specialized centers and clinics to treat certain populations of patients:

    Don’t Miss: Bland Diet Recipes For Ulcers

    Avoid Sitting Or Standing For Long Hours

    Being stationary for long hours leads to pooling of blood in the legs and development of venous leg ulcers.

    Walking or moving the legs at regular intervals improves blood circulation and aids in pushing the blood in the veins up to the heart. Even moving the legs slightly helps in the circulation of blood.

    Symptoms Of Venous Insufficiency Ulcers

    Venous leg ulcers

    Whe a venous ulcer begins to develop, stasis dermatitis may be present causing scaling and erythema of the lower extremities. Hemosiderin staining may also occur, causing the presence of brownish or yellow patches underneath the skin. Other skin changes may include the appearance of dark red or purple as a result of blood leaching into the surrounding tissue. Venous ulcers will present with shallow but large wounds with irregular margins that typically develop on the lower leg or ankle. The base of the ulcer is typically red, can result in a significant amount of exudate depending on the level of infection, and will ooze venous blood when manipulated. Typically the wound will be relatively painless, with any pain resulting from subsequent infection or edema. Often the entire leg will become swollen, and the skin will become more firm and reddish brown in color, otherwise known as stasis dermatitis. Elevation of the limb will help to relieve discomfort and swelling.

    Figure 1: Venous ulcer with obesity as cofactorFigure 2: Large superficial venous ulcer

    You May Like: Ulcerated Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma

    More articles

    Popular Articles