Arterial Leg Ulcer Dressing

Wounds and ulcers ulcer dressings and management background chronic leg ulcers caused by venous disease arterial disease or a combination of both need to be clearly identified before treatment can be commenced.

Arterial leg ulcer dressing.

This article provides an overview of the dressings that may be used in venous leg ulcers and guidance on selection. According to american family physician venous ulcers are the most common type of lower. To improve the blood supply to the ulcer an angioplasty is often used or surgery to clear out a blockage from a leg artery endarterectomy or a bypass. Venous and arterial ulcers are open wounds that commonly occur on your lower legs and feet.

An ischemic arterial leg ulcer with deep punched out appearance etiology. Doctor prescribed advanced wound care dressings are vital to the healing of chronic leg ulcers. There are multitudes of dressing products at clinicians disposa. Arterial ulcers are distinguishable from venous ulcers in that venous ulcers present with redness and edema swelling at the site of the ulcer and may be painless.

Thorough wound assessment will enhance diagnosis improve patient outcomes and reduce cost. Does the choice of topical agents creams or ointments or wound dressings affect the healing of arterial leg ulcers. Ulcer dressings and management racgp. The cornerstone of venous leg ulcer treatment is compression therapy which increases venous return and reduces venous hypertension 1 however dressings are important because they can provide symptom control and optimise the local wound environment to promote healing.

Figure 1 due to chronic venous insufficiency cvi vlus are managed in primary care or the community with variation in treatment and effectiveness 2 which in 2010 translated to healthcare costs of over 2 billion per year. Wound care continues to cost the nhs substantial sums of money. 3 the burden of recurrence is expected to rise with an ageing. People with blood circulation problems in their legs can develop leg ulcers with adults having around a 1 chance of suffering from a leg ulcer at some time in their life.

Diabetic foot ulcers are a related form of ulcer. For patients coping with vein disease diabetes osteoarthritis and other diseases that compromise the circulatory system leg ulcers represent a potentially serious risk that could lead to health complications. What is the research question. In the management of complex leg ulcers such as arterial ulcer multidisciplinary working is essential.

The majority of ulcers around 70 result from poor blood. Learn about how symptoms can differ and treatments for recovery. This will be more effective than any change of dressing for an arterial ulcer. Their management will depend on the diagnosis combining direct management of the ulcer.

The most common causes of arterial ulcers are. Hy tape can secure all types of dressings commonly used in arterial ulcer wound management. For information about those look on the conditions list.