PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 16, 2017

CARDIOVASCULAR

Recognizing and Treating Venous Stasis Ulcers

Yvette C. Terrie, BS Pharm, RPh
Clinical Pharmacist/Freelance Medical Writer
Haymarket, Virginia

US Pharm. 2017;42(2):36-39.

ABSTRACT: Venous ulcers, also referred to as venous stasis ulcers (VSUs), are the
most common cause of ulcerations that affect the lower extremities. These types of
ulcers are experienced by an estimated 1% of the U.S. population. The incidence of
VSUs is most prevalent among the elderly population and is also ubiquitous in patients
with a medical history of edema in the legs, long-standing varicose veins, or blood clots
in either the superficial or the deep veins of the legs. VSUs generally occur in the lower
extremities, especially along the medial distal ankle. In general, treatments for VSUs
include compression therapy, local wound care and debridement, various types of
wound dressings, antibiotics for infected wounds, the use of pharmacologic agents such
as pentoxifylline, aspirin, calcium channel blockers, and topical corticosteroids when
warranted, as well as surgery and other forms of adjunctive therapy.

Venous ulcers, also referred to as venous stasis ulcers (VSUs), are perceived to be the
most common cause of ulcerations affecting the lower extremities and can be severe
and debilitating in nature.1-3 VSUs affect an estimated 1% of the U.S. population and are
responsible for more than 80% of lower extremity ulcerations.1-3 Statistics also report
that an estimated 2.5% of patients admitted to long-term care facilities have VSUs.4

The probability of developing a VSU is directly proportional to increasing age, and its
occurrence is also common in patient populations with a history of venous
insufficiency.1-5 VSUs occur more frequently in the elderly patient population for several
reasons, including calf muscle pump failure, immobility, chronic edema, and
obesity.6Ulceration is precipitated by decreased diffusion of oxygen to the skin and
microvasculature damages.4,5 Moreover, the incidence is also greater among paraplegic
patients owing to the fact that the calf muscles are immobile.4,5

The healing rates associated with VSUs are often poor, and an estimated 50% of these
types of ulcers are still open and unhealed for 9 months or longer.4,5 Therefore,
increasing awareness about early recognition, clinical intervention, and patient
compliance with therapy is critical to enhancing healing and positive patient outcomes.
VSU recurrence rates are also disconcerting, as more than one-third of patients treated
for VSUs experience four or more recurrences.4,5

In the United States, VSUs have been estimated to contribute to significant direct and
indirect health-care and personal costs including loss of productivity, which accounts for
more than 2 million days of absence from work and decreased quality of life. VSUs
reportedly incur treatment costs of approximately $3 billion per year.1

While most VSUs are caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), it is imperative that
clinicians rule out other underlying causes such as arterial, metabolic, neuropathic,
hematologic, infectious, malignant, and inflammatory diseases.6 The differential
diagnosis for the VSU may include ischemic ulceration, pyoderma gangrenosum,
lymphedema, trauma, neuropathic ulceration, and cellulitis.7 Other possible causes of
these types of ulcerations include inflammatory processes, resulting in leukocyte
activation, endothelial damage, platelet aggregation, intracellular edema, arterial
insufficiency, diabetic neuropathy, prolonged pressure, and chronic conditions such as
rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, and vasculitis.1,4 VSUs are five to seven times more
common than the arterial ulcers observed in those with peripheral artery disease.8

VSUs are most commonly seen in patients with a history of leg swelling, varicose veins,
or blood clots of the superficial or deep veins of the legs.7-9 Predisposing factors include
diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and obesity. Diabetic patients
with a VSU have a clinical profile and prognosis comparable to those of nondiabetic
patients.8,10,11

VSUs occur primarily on the lower extremity over bony prominences, especially along
the medial distal ankle and mostly on the inner part of the leg, but the ulcers can occur
anywhere on the lower leg and may affect one or both extremities. 1-4,7

Causes of VSUs
Certain factors may increase an individual’s risk of developing a VSU. The primary risk
factors include older age, previous leg injury, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and
phlebitis.12,13 Examples of other risk factors that may cause CVI that could lead to the
development of VSUs include12,13:

 Uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes

 History of lower leg edema
 History of DVT
 Uncontrolled or undiagnosed hypertension
 Standing or sitting for long periods
 Obesity
 Family history of VSUs
 Varicose veins
 Leg trauma.

Signs and Symptoms

Patients with VSUs may present with a variety of symptoms depending upon the
severity of the ulceration. Patients may present with dull aching or pain in the lower
extremity, along with some edema that subsides upon elevation of the affected
extremity.7,13,14 The skin may appear erythematous and have a fibrous or eczematous
appearance as well.7,13,14 The surrounding skin may present as taut and shiny with a
brown or purple pigmentation.7,13 Upon physical examination, the patient may present
with ulceration that is large in appearance and is typically shallow, with irregularly
shaped edges.2,7,13,14 In many cases, the VSUs are painful, and drainage may also be
present.7,13,14 Granulation tissue and fibrin are often present in the ulcer base, and other
clinical findings may include lower extremity varicosities; edema; venous dermatitis
along with hyperpigmentation and hemosiderosis or hemoglobin deposition in the skin;
and lipodermatosclerosis associated with thickening and fibrosis of normal adipose
tissue under the skin.2,13,14

Treatment Recommendations
Preventing VSUs is the most important aspect of CVI management; however, patients
still develop VSUs, and the goals of therapy include reducing edema, promoting healing
of the VSU, and preventing VSU recurrence.14 Failure to treat VSUs may lead to severe
complications including infection and/or amputation and increased risk of morbidity and
mortality.14 Treatment typically requires on average at least 6 to 12 months of continual
therapy to promote healing, but more than 70% of patients experience a recurrence
within 5 years.7 It is crucial for clinicians to individualize treatment based on the patient’s
overall health, medical conditions, current medications, and psychological status as well
as physical ability and willingness to routinely care for the wound.15-18

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) recommends

compression therapy and limb elevation to reduce edema.15 It also recommends
cleaning the ulcer with a nonirritating cleanser, debriding nonvital tissue, maintaining a
moist wound environment, monitoring for signs of infection, and managing pain and
odor.15-18 The most important goal for the treatment of VSUs is long-term edema
control.7,15-18 The revised validated VSU guidelines by the AAWC recommend delivery of
evidence-based care by qualified professionals via a multidisciplinary team for effective
venous ulcer treatment.7 Therefore, it is imperative to get a thorough history and
physical examination and consult the proper team members for development of a
collaborative treatment strategy.7

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) and the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) endorse comparable recommendations, such as
ulcer debridement, edema management, infection control, and pain management. 17-
19
Treatments for VSUs include compression therapy, local wound care (including
debridement), wound dressings, topical or systemic antibiotics for infected wounds,
other pharmacologic agents, surgery, and adjunctive therapy if warranted. 14,16
Compression Therapy
The use of compression therapy with high stiffness index is considered to be the
standard of therapy for VSUs. However, patient compliance with compression therapy is
sometimes challenging in some populations, particularly in the elderly, because of
reduced dexterity, muscle strength, range of motion, and flexibility.6

Until a few years ago, compression bandages were regarded as first-line therapy of
VSUs.6,16,20 However, to date medical compression stockings are the first choice of
treatment, and they should exert a pressure of at least 20 to 30 mmHg at the ankle to
provide efficacious therapy.16,20 Compression therapy helps prevent reflux, decreases
release of inflammatory cytokines, and reduces fluid leakage from capillaries, thereby
controlling lower extremity edema and VSU recurrence.14,16 Goals of compression
therapy are to reduce symptoms, prevent secondary complications, and slow disease
progression.14,16 In patients with severe cellulitis, compression therapy is delayed while
infection is treated.13,14,16 Contraindications for compression therapy include heart failure,
recent DVT, unstable medical status, and risk factors that can cause complications of
compression therapy.13,14,16 Additionally, pneumatic compression generally is reserved
for patients who cannot tolerate continuous compression.16

Wound Debridement
Wound debridement is essential in treating chronic VSUs.13,16 Removing necrotic tissue
and bacterial burden through debridement enhances wound healing.13,16Dressings are
used under compression bandages to promote healing, control wound exudate, improve
patient comfort, and prevent the wound from adhering to the bandage. 14,16 Vacuum-
assisted wound-closure therapy can be used with compression bandages.14,16 Examples
of the types of available dressings can be found in TABLE 1.14,16

Antibiotics
Both bacterial colonization and infection are common in those with VSUs
and contribute to poor wound healing.3,13,16 The use of oral antibiotics is
recommended only in cases of suspected wound-bed infection and
cellulitis.3,13,16 Parenteral antibiotics are indicated for patients with one or
more of the following signs and symptoms associated with infection16:

 Increased erythema of surrounding skin

 Increased pain, local heat, tenderness, and leg swelling
 Quick increase in wound size
 Lymphangitis
 Presence of fever.

Additionally, suspected osteomyelitis requires an evaluation for arterial

disease and possible utilization of oral or IV antibiotics to treat the
underlying infection, if needed.3,13,16

Adjunctive Therapy
In addition to antibiotics, clinicians may prescribe other pharmacologic
agents such as pentoxifylline, calcium channel blockers, aspirin, or
topical corticosteroids to treat VSUs (TABLE 2).13,14,16,21 Several other
adjunctive therapies are used in the treatment of VSUs including pulsed
ultrasound, pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), and electrical
stimulation, which can help facilitate treatment of VSUs that fail to close
or show signs of healing despite good conventional wound and
compression therapy.13,16,21
Surgery
In some cases, especially in those patients with severe VSUs, surgery may be
warranted and may decrease venous reflux, quicken healing, and prevent other
episodes of VSUs.13,16 The possible surgical options include ablation of the saphenous
vein; interruption of the perforating veins with subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery
(SEPS); treatment of iliac vein obstruction with stenting; and removal of incompetent
superficial veins with phlebectomy, stripping, sclerotherapy, or laser therapy. 13,22,23

The Role of the Pharmacist in Educating Patients About VSUs

Since pharmacists are often perceived as one of the most accessible healthcare
professionals, they have a critical role in the treatment and care of patients at risk of, or
with, VSUs. This includes effective patient counseling and education, especially with
regard to therapy for VSUs, proper use of medications used to treat VSUs, and
reminders about preventive measures to decrease reoccurrence of VSUs. Since the
incidence of VSUs is common in elderly and diabetic patient populations, pharmacists
play a key role in identifying those patients at greater risk of developing VSUs.
Pharmacists should also seize every possible opportunity to remind patients about the
critical importance of adhering to therapy to enhance therapeutic outcomes and prevent
further complications.

Pharmacists can also reinforce patient education with regard to the preventive
measures for VSUs such as staying vigilant about one’s overall health and adhering to
the goals of therapy. Patients should be reminded of the importance of routine wound
care and follow-up with their primary healthcare provider, monitoring the ulcer for signs
of infection, and immediately seeking medical attention if the wound shows signs of
worsening or not healing. Patients at risk for VSUs should be aware that with early
diagnosis and implementation of and adherence to therapy, the condition can be
effectively treated and healed to avoid complications.

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