Conclusion and References
Conclusion
Venous leg ulcer management can be very challenging representing a high socioeconomic burden but also have a high incidence of recurrence. A systematic approach to management of venous leg ulcers offers clinicians a way to improve wound healing outcomes and reduce the incidence of recurrence. It is incumbent on the treating clinicians to educate patients regarding the need for lifelong compression therapy.
Key Takeaways
- Risk factors for arterial disease should be evaluated in the history and physical examination
- An ABPI between 0.5-0.7 indicates mild to moderate disease and a referral to a vascular surgeon for a more comprehensive assessment is recommended
- The audible handheld Doppler ultrasound is proven to be a reliable, simple, rapid, and inexpensive bedside exclusion test of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic and nondiabetic patients
- Multiphasic audible handheld Doppler sounds (biphasic and triphasic) indicate adequate blood supply to heal. The monophasic wave form indicates inadequate blood supply, requiring a vascular consultation
- When patients receive adequate compression therapy, they are likely to have wound closure by week 12
- Patient adherence to compression therapy is the cornerstone for venous leg ulcer management
- Patient education on the concept of “compression-for-life” is key to venous leg ulcer reoccurrence
References
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