Topic Four: Treatment

Treatment Arterial ulcers are notoriously difficult to heal and prove challenging to the practitioner. Arterial surgery to improve the blood supply may be necessary before an arterial ulcer will heal (Vuolo, 2009). In severe ischaemia, healing may not be possible, and...

Topic Three: Patient Assessment

Patient Assessment A patient with an arterial leg ulcer should be investigated following a full patient history. This will establish if the wound is an arterial ulcer caused by arterial insufficiency. Some questions to ask: Has the patient experienced any pain? If the...

Topic Two: Presentation and Clinical Diagnosis

Presentation and Clinical Diagnosis Classic signs to establish and indicate arterial ulceration: Pain The patient may experience pain particularly associated with walking and when their legs are elevated. This is called intermittent claudication, which is explained...

Topic One: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Peripheral arterial disease is infrequent in younger people but increases with age. In population studies, there is evidence indicating that approximately 20% of people over 60 years of age have some level of peripheral arterial...

Topic One: Compression Therapy

Compression Therapy Compression therapy is used to manage conditions that are connected with chronic venous insufficiency. It is also used as part of an effective treatment plan for the management of oedema (Wounds UK, 2015). In general, bandages are most commonly...