Clinical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Fitostimoline Hydrogel used for the Autolytic Debridement of Venous Ulcers

Abstract

Venous ulcers are the most common type of chronic ulcers, affecting frequently the lower limbs. Chronic venous ulcers significantly impact quality of life because of pain, risk of infections, need of medications and possibility of malignant transformation [1]. Accurate wound assessment is essential to guarantee appropriate goal setting.Debridement and bacterial load control are two initial steps of wound care [2]. There are many procedures for wounds cleaning and to reduce bacterial bioburden. It is important the appropriate treatment choice for any single case. Firstly, venous ulcers often present fibrin, one of the major factor that prevents healing process, and for this reason, a debridement of fibrinous tissue is necessary [3]. There are different type of debridement (enzymatic, autolytic, surgical etc.) and the common choice of not aggressive debridement depends on the impossibility to obtain an adequate anesthesia at home or in first level/private offices. Autolytic debridement is a selective and not aggressive method which causes removal of necrotic tissue due to the physiological moist wound environment, which exerts its own debriding capacity [4]. It is a painless and safe technique with effective action and with low costs because dressing are usually changed every two days.