The Turkish Journal of Vascular Surgery

Yazarlar: Suat DOĞANCI, Safa GÖDE, Ozan Onur BALKANAY, Serdar BAYRAK, A. Kürşat BOZKURT, Ufuk DEMİRKILIÇ

Konular:-

Anahtar Kelimeler:Extracellular matrix proteins; varicose ulcer

Özet: Objective: Treatment of venous ulcers is highly demanding for both patients and doctors. Compression therapy is the mainstay treatment for venous ulcers. XelmaTM, an extracellular matrix protein (ECM), is a recent treatment alternative for hard to heal ulcers. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of XelmaTM which is applied as an adjuvant therapy to compression theray. Material and Methods: Totally 45 patients with hard to heal venous ulcer from three different centers were enrolled to study. Patients treated with standard wound care+four-layer bandage+ XelmaTM application. Ulcer areas were calculated planimetrically. Other complaints, pain levels (general and during change of dressings) determined with visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded. Follow-up visits were performed weekly period. Ulcer areas were also recorded during each visit. Wound healing durations were recorded. Results: All treated ulcers were completely healed. Mean wound healing time in our study population was 5.1±2.4 weeks. Significant improvements in other complaints and pain levels of the patients were observed. Mean pain levels at the beginning were 5.8±2.3 (general) ve 6.4±1.9 (during change of dressings). These improvements were prominent after the second week. Conclusion: Obtaining rapid results in the healing of chronic venous ulcers that has also social part is very important for both patients and the doctors. Therefore extracellular matrix proteins should take its place in the treatment of venous ulcers with determined hard to heal diagnosis.

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