Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are open lesions below the knee associated with venous disease, requiring more than two weeks to heal.1 They represent the most prevalent type of leg ulcers and have a profound impact patients' quality of life.2
In the United States, more than 11 million men and 22 million women aged 40 to 80 years have varicose veins, and more than 2 million adults have advanced chronic venous disease, with skin changes or VLUs.1 The importance of accurate diagnosis for effective management of venous leg ulcers is emphasized. The key to successful management of VLUs is accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment through comprehensive holistic assessment.3
This microlearn will provide background on venous disease and review VLU pathophysiology and risk factors. Frontline treatment, including compression therapy, is also discussed.
Wound cleansing plays a foundational role in the healing process of both acute and chronic wounds by promoting a clean environment conducive to tissue repair. Wound cleansing supports healing by promoting a clean environment for tissue repair, debris removal, reducing bacterial load, and supporting appropriate moisture levels.1
There are several common wound cleansing methods as well as myriad wound cleanser options available. However, many of the active ingredients in some cleansers are locally toxic and have limited or no proven efficacy in enhancing wound healing, thus making wound cleanser selection a vital component of evidence-based wound care.2 This microlearn will provide foundational knowledge of wound cleansing and its role in wound healing.
Exudate plays a beneficial role in acute wounds, providing essential components for tissue repair. However, excessive exudate production or the development of a chronic wound can lead to detrimental effects on the wound and surrounding tissue, delaying the healing process.
The presence of an exuding wound significantly impacts a patient's daily activities and well-being. To establish an optimal moist wound healing environment, it is crucial to identify and address the underlying causes of excessive wound exudate. To facilitate wound healing and reduce symptoms, proper management of exudate is also essential.
Wound infection occurs when microorganisms invade a wound and proliferate to a level that triggers a local or systemic response in the host.1 When the skin's protective barrier is breached, bacteria can enter and disrupt the wound healing process. The increased presence of bacteria leads to a persistent inflammatory state, as white blood cells continuously attempt to remove the microorganisms.1 This process can overwhelm the host's immune response, compromising the wound's cellular balance by competing for oxygen and nutrients and creating a barrier to healing.
This microlearn provides an overview of wound infections and addresses common risk factors, clinical diagnosis of infection, and management strategies to put infected wounds on a healing trajectory.
Pain management in chronic wounds has long been considered a neglected area.1 Pain is often underestimated and poorly managed, with wound care primarily focusing on the wound itself rather than the whole person.2
Pain associated with chronic wounds can be considerable, affecting quality of life, and having a major impact on physical, emotional, and cognitive function.3,4
This microlearn will explore pain associated with wounds with discussion on the mechanisms of pain and pain perception, as well as the different types of pain that may be experienced by patients.
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