Venous Ulceration Flashcards
1
Q
What do ulcers indicate
A
Skin and tissues struggling to heal due to impaired blood flow
2
Q
CLINICAL FEATURES
Venous ulcers features
A
- Occurs after minor injury
- Larger than arterial ulcers
- More superficial than arterial
- Irregular, gently sloping borders
- Affects the gaiter area of leg (from mid-calf down to ankle)
- Less painful than arterial
- Occurs with other signs of chronic venous insufficiency
3
Q
AETIOLOGY
A
Impaired drainage and pooling of blood in legs
4
Q
INVESTIGATIONS
First choice
A
- Ankle-brachial pressure index
- Blood tests
- Assess for infection and co-morbidity
- Charcoal swabs
- Determine causative organism if infection
- Skin biopsy
- Skin cancer differential
5
Q
MANAGEMENT
General principles
A
- Referal to other teams
- Wound care
- Compression therapy
- Medication
6
Q
MANAGEMENT
Referal to where
A
- Vascular surgery where mixed or arterial ulcers suspected
- Tissue viability/specialist leg ulcer clinic in complex or non-healing case
- Dermatology where differential such as skin cancer
- Pain clinics
- Diabetic ulcer service
7
Q
MANAGEMENT
Describe good wound care
A
- Input from district nurses to patient
- Cleaning wound
- Debridement (removing dead tissue)
- Dressing wound
8
Q
MANAGEMENT
Possible medication
A
- Pentoxifylline
- Antibiotics
- Analgesia (avoid NSAID as can worsen)
