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Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers : Risk factors for adverse events and complications, contraindications - a review of present guidelines

Andriessen, A. ; Apelqvist, J. LU ; Mosti, Giovanni ; Partsch, H. ; Gonska, C. and Abel, M. (2017) In Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 31(9). p.1562-1568
Abstract

Introduction: The adequate use of compression in venous leg ulcer treatment is equally important to patients as well as clinicians. Currently, there is a lack of clarity on contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. Methods: The project aimed to optimize prevention, treatment and maintenance approaches by recognizing contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. A literature review was conducted of current guidelines on venous leg ulcer prevention, management and maintenance. Results: Searches took place from 29th February 2016 to 30th April 2016 and were... (More)

Introduction: The adequate use of compression in venous leg ulcer treatment is equally important to patients as well as clinicians. Currently, there is a lack of clarity on contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. Methods: The project aimed to optimize prevention, treatment and maintenance approaches by recognizing contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. A literature review was conducted of current guidelines on venous leg ulcer prevention, management and maintenance. Results: Searches took place from 29th February 2016 to 30th April 2016 and were prospectively limited to publications in the English and German languages and publication dates were between January 2009 and April 2016. Twenty Guidelines, clinical pathways and consensus papers on compression therapy for venous leg ulcer treatment and for venous disease, were included. Guidelines agreed on the following absolute contraindications: Arterial occlusive disease, heart failure and ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) <0.5, but gave conflicting recommendations on relative contraindications, risks and adverse events. Moreover definitions were unclear and not consistent. Conclusions: Evidence-based guidance is needed to inform clinicians on risk factor, adverse effects, complications and contraindications. ABPI values need to be specified and details should be given on the type of compression that is safe to use. Ongoing research challenges the present recommendations, shifting some contraindications into a list of potential indications. Complications of compression can be prevented when adequate assessment is performed and clinicians are skilled in applying compression.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
volume
31
issue
9
pages
1562 - 1568
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:28602045
  • scopus:85026468876
ISSN
0926-9959
DOI
10.1111/jdv.14390
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
4f9d55e9-b877-4f0b-98c3-8613e4ad741a
date added to LUP
2017-08-31 13:40:16
date last changed
2024-04-14 16:34:11
@article{4f9d55e9-b877-4f0b-98c3-8613e4ad741a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: The adequate use of compression in venous leg ulcer treatment is equally important to patients as well as clinicians. Currently, there is a lack of clarity on contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. Methods: The project aimed to optimize prevention, treatment and maintenance approaches by recognizing contraindications, risk factors, adverse events and complications, when applying compression therapy for venous leg ulcer patients. A literature review was conducted of current guidelines on venous leg ulcer prevention, management and maintenance. Results: Searches took place from 29th February 2016 to 30th April 2016 and were prospectively limited to publications in the English and German languages and publication dates were between January 2009 and April 2016. Twenty Guidelines, clinical pathways and consensus papers on compression therapy for venous leg ulcer treatment and for venous disease, were included. Guidelines agreed on the following absolute contraindications: Arterial occlusive disease, heart failure and ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) &lt;0.5, but gave conflicting recommendations on relative contraindications, risks and adverse events. Moreover definitions were unclear and not consistent. Conclusions: Evidence-based guidance is needed to inform clinicians on risk factor, adverse effects, complications and contraindications. ABPI values need to be specified and details should be given on the type of compression that is safe to use. Ongoing research challenges the present recommendations, shifting some contraindications into a list of potential indications. Complications of compression can be prevented when adequate assessment is performed and clinicians are skilled in applying compression.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andriessen, A. and Apelqvist, J. and Mosti, Giovanni and Partsch, H. and Gonska, C. and Abel, M.}},
  issn         = {{0926-9959}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1562--1568}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology}},
  title        = {{Compression therapy for venous leg ulcers : Risk factors for adverse events and complications, contraindications - a review of present guidelines}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jdv.14390}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jdv.14390}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}