Chronic wounds

Vascular specialists are often confronted with chronic wounds. In most cases the wounds have existed for weeks and sometimes even for several years without adequate diagnostics and causal treatment being initiated. The goal of treatment is complete and permanent wound closure. In addition to phase-appropriate local treatment, adequate diagnostics and causal treatment are required. The majority of chronic wounds are caused by venous or arterial vascular diseases but numerous other causes must be taken into account in the context of differential diagnostic considerations. The basic diagnostics are a detailed patient history, microbiological and clinical examinations and the clarification of the vascular status; however, further serological, instrumental and histological examinations may also be required. Local treatment is geared towards wound stage, tolerance, exudate absorption capacity, microbiological properties, patient preferences and economic aspects.