Comprehensive Guide to Vascular Wound Treatments

Vascular wounds are lesions resulting from tissue damage in the veins or arteries. These wounds commonly affect the lower limbs including your ankles, calves, and feet, but they can occur elsewhere. There are two main types of vascular wounds – venous and arterial ulcers.

Insufficient blood flow due to peripheral artery diseases is the primary cause of arterial ulcers. Venous ulcers typically occur when venous valves malfunction or sustain damage. Varicose veins and venous insufficiency can also cause ulcers. Below is a comprehensive overview of vascular wound treatments and management.

Venous Wounds

An effective treatment for venous ulcers is compression therapy. Doctors apply multi-layered elastic bandages and elevate the affected leg to reduce venous pressure and improve blood flow in the proper direction. Compression decreases the diameter of blood vessels, helping prevent backward flow of blood. It also reduces fluid leakage from capillaries, inflammation, and swelling.

Vascular specialists also apply topical dressings to prevent infection and promote a moist environment, which helps tissue grow. Topical agents such as cadexomer iodine cream and hydrocolloid dressings promote healing when combined with compression therapy.

Doctors can also use antibiotics including cephalosporin, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin when the infection is present. Surgical debridement is also an option, where specialists remove necrotic tissue to reduce the bacterial burden in the affected region. Debridement promotes tissue formation and wound healing.

Cellular therapy, which leverages fibroblasts and keratinocytes, may also be used to promote healing of venous wounds. For this treatment, vascular specialists utilize a double-layered skin construct known as Apligraf. The outer layer contains cultured keratinocytes while the inner layer contains fibroblasts, both of which help speed up the closure of venous ulcers.

Arterial Wounds

The first step in treating arterial ulcers involves managing the underlying conditions, particularly peripheral artery diseases, which often cause the wounds. Depending on the severity, steps include lifestyle changes (proper diet, regular exercise, and smoking cessation) and medication (for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol).

Regarding arterial ulcers, treatment modalities include preventing infection and surgical revascularization. Wound dressings including hydrocolloid, hydrogel, silver, and Iodofom gauzes, and antimicrobial creams and powders, are used to prevent infection.

If an infection is present on the wound, doctors prescribe appropriate antibiotics. Revascularization restores the passage of blood to the capillaries in the affected region. The two main procedures include:

• Angioplasty – A minimally invasive procedure where surgeons widen any narrowed or restricted arteries using a balloon catheter.
• Vascular bypass – A procedure where blood vessels are reconnected to redirect blood flow from one region to another. It helps improve blood flow to heal persistent arterial ulcers, treat PADs, and prevent infections.

Once proper blood flow resumes in healthy tissue, vascular specialists can perform debridement. This procedure removes infected, damaged, or dead tissue to help improve the healing potential of the arterial ulcer.

Conclusion:

Vascular wounds are serious conditions that can be debilitating and painful. They can also limit your mobility and affect your quality of life significantly. If left untreated, the wounds can lead to serious complications including gait changes, infections, chronic pain, and dermatitis. As such, it’s crucial that you consult a specialist when you exhibit signs of vascular wounds.

Fortunately, the experts at Washington Vascular Specialists are here to help. For nearly two decades, we have provided a wide range of outpatient vascular treatment solutions in the mid-Atlantic region. We offer advanced and effective vascular wound treatments and care for patients in Largo, Takoma Park, Maryland, Frederick, and surrounding regions. Contact us today or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment with our well-trained, certified, and experienced specialists.