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[Venous leg ulcers].
Carl-Erik Slagsvold1, Einar Stranden
1Sirkulasjonsfysiologisk avdeling, Kirurgisk klinikk, Aker universitetssykehus, 0514 Oslo. carlerik.slagsvold@akersykehus.no
Summary
Venous leg ulcers significantly impact quality of life and healthcare costs. Effective treatment involves managing venous hypertension and edema through compression, elevation, and potentially venous surgery for improved healing and reduced recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Dermatology
- Phlebology
Context:
- Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are a common and costly complication of chronic venous insufficiency.
- Patients experience reduced quality of life due to extensive symptoms and wound-related issues.
- High treatment costs represent a significant burden on healthcare systems.
Purpose:
- To outline the pathophysiology and diagnostic approaches for venous leg ulcers.
- To emphasize the importance of addressing venous hypertension in VLU management.
- To discuss surgical interventions for venous insufficiency contributing to ulceration.
Summary:
- Venous hypertension, stemming from superficial, deep, or combined venous insufficiency, is the primary cause of VLUs.
- Diagnosis involves clinical examination, venous pressure measurements, plethysmography, and color duplex scanning.
- Key treatments include edema reduction, compression, elevation, and surgical correction of venous insufficiency.
Impact:
- Effective management of venous hypertension can improve VLU healing rates.
- Surgical interventions like venous resection or reconstruction may reduce ulcer recurrence.
- Optimizing VLU treatment can enhance patient quality of life and decrease healthcare expenditures.