Venous Stasis Ulcers

Wound Care · Life Eugene Marais Hospital, Pretoria

Venous stasis ulcers are responsible for the great majority of lower-leg ulcers. They often arise from poor return of venous blood from the lower legs back to the heart. Patients frequently have a history of varicose veins and/or previous deep-vein thrombosis.

These wounds typically occur around the ankle, are often wet (exuding), and can struggle to heal for months or years if the underlying venous problem is not addressed.

Diagnosis at our practice

A complete medical history and clinical examination is followed by a hand-held Doppler examination to determine whether the arterial supply to the limb is adequate. Where indicated, arterial and/or venous duplex-Doppler studies are performed to confirm the diagnosis. We also have specialised equipment for transcutaneous oxygen measurement (TcPO2), which establishes exactly how much oxygen is available at the wound for healing.

Treatment

• Compression therapy — compression bandages and stockings form the cornerstone of venous ulcer treatment, provided the arterial supply has first been confirmed as adequate.
• Basic and advanced wound care — expert wound management by our team, including negative-pressure wound therapy (VAC) where indicated.
• Venous assessment — where needed, venous duplex-Doppler studies are performed and further treatment options discussed with you.

Educational videos

Venous Leg UlcersEWMA — Management of patients with venous leg ulcersDecoding Your Veins — Explainer Video