Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers

doi:10.1136/dtb.2000.38428

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2000;38:28-31; doi:10.1136/dtb.2000.38428

Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers

Relevant BNF section: App.8

Venous (gravitational) leg ulcers are unsightly, sometimes painfuland often difficult to heal. They are associated with incompetenceof valves in the deep leg veins and venous hypertension. Themain approaches in the management of venous leg ulcers havebeen to reduce the 'back pressure' in the veins by surgicalremoval of any varicose veins, postural drainage (elevationof the legs when the patient is lying or seated), and use ofcompression therapy with bandages, hosiery or intermittent pneumaticcompression. In this article, we review the efficacy and discusscorrect use of compression therapy.