Four layer dressing in the management of chronic venous ulcers in the outpatient setting of a tertiary hospital in India

Chronic venous ulcers are quite commonly seen in vascular surgery outpatient clinics in India. Understanding the pathophysiology and identification of the primary cause forms the cornerstone of treatment. However there are many management challenges especially in developing countries. To study the role of four layer bandage dressing in chronic venous ulcer management by assessing healing rates, the time to heal and compliance rate in the outpatient setting. This is a retrospective study of patients with chronic venous ulcers presenting to vascular surgery outpatient department from September 2012 to July 2013 who were treated with four layer dressings. A total of 202 patients were treated with four layer dressings during this period. Of these 32 were excluded for various reasons. Of the 170 patients studied, healing was seen in 87.6%. Most of the ulcers healed by 4 weeks (50.6%). There was 90% patient compliance. Four layer dressing is effective in the healing of venous ulcers in the outpatient setting with good patient compliance.