venous stasis ulcer

Patient care

Assessment includes a detailed medical and surgical history and physical examination. When the lower extremities are examined, characteristic markers of venous ulceration include ankle flare (distention of small veins on the medial aspect of the foot due to chronic venous hypertension); dermatitis; pigmentation changes on the skin surface, usually appearing as brown discolorations affecting the medial part of the leg; woody induration of the leg; and varicosities. The health care professional should examine the leg for lesions superior to the medial malleolus and should carefully measure the size, shape, and margins of wounds; drainage or exudates; surrounding skin; and pain or tenderness. The patient should be advised to elevate the legs 7 in (18 cm) above the heart for 2 to 4 hr during the day and at night. Compression devices (such as graduated pressure stockings, Unna boot) are used to help reduce edema, improve venous blood flow, and aid healing. Before applying any compression device or wrap, the health care professional should measure the patient’s leg circumference at the wound and the wound size of the ulcer. The wound should be cleansed regularly, and aggressive debridement employed as needed. Wounds with light to moderate drainage benefit from a moisture-retentive dressing (such as hydrocolloid, transparent film, some foams), whereas wounds with moderate to heavy drainage do better with an absorbent dressing (such as foams, alginates, special absorptive dressings). Underlying problems such as obesity, deep venous thrombosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease must be assessed and managed as part of the wound care protocol.