The impact of a wound centre on a vascular surgery practice
The opening of an outpatient wound centre has been associated with a significant increase in peripheral vascular practice and a significant decrease in amputation rate. Venita Chandra and colleagues Alyssa M Flores, Matthew W Mell and Ronald L Dalman (Stanford University, Stanford, USA) believe that such centres result in synergistic systems that promote more aggressive and effective limb salvage strategies. Chandra presented the findings of a recent study analysing the clinical impact of a wound care centre on a vascular surgery practice, at the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM; 20–23 June, Boston, USA).
According to Chandra, chronic wounds remain a growing problem, not only in the USA but worldwide—with many patients at risk of limb loss presenting as particularly challenging. This cohort requires complex and resource-intensive medical care, reported Chandra.
World experts and leaders in this specialty have developed and described programs to attempt to improve the care of these complex patients and decrease the risk of amputation … read more