The difficult venous ulcer: case series of 177 ulcers referred for vascular surgical opinion following failure of conservative management.

Neequaye SK., Douglas AD., Hofman D., Wolz M., Sharma R., Cummings R., Hands L.

Venous leg ulcers are common, chronic, debilitating, and expensive. Evidence supports use of compression bandaging, with superficial venous surgery in selected cases, but these interventions frequently fail to achieve healing. We describe a series of 152 consecutive referrals from a nurse-led specialist dermatology clinic to a vascular surgical service; a group posing particularly challenging problems. This observational study, with median follow-up of 18 months, describes outcomes in a number of important clinically identifiable subgroups. Its findings may assist service planning and discussion of the surgical role within multidisciplinary ulcer management.

DOI

10.1177/0003319709332901

Type

Journal article

Journal

Angiology

Publication Date

08/2009

Volume

60

Pages

492 - 495

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Chronic Disease, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures, Referral and Consultation, Reoperation, Sclerotherapy, Stockings, Compression, Time Factors, Treatment Failure, Treatment Outcome, Varicose Ulcer, Vascular Surgical Procedures, Wound Healing

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