Wound Healing Society 2023 update on guidelines for arterial ulcers.

Abstract

The Wound Healing Society guidelines for the treatment of arterial insufficiency ulcers were originally published in 2006, with the last update in 2014. These guidelines provided recommendations, along with their respective levels of evidence, on seven categories: diagnosis, surgery, infection control, wound bed preparation, dressings, adjuvant therapy and long-term maintenance. Over the last 9 years, additional literature regarding these aspects of arterial ulcer management has been published. An advisory panel comprised of academicians, clinicians and researchers was chosen to update the 2014 guidelines. Members included vascular surgeons, internists, plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians and dermatologists, all with expertise in wound healing. The goal of this article is to evaluate relevant new findings upon which an updated version of the guidelines will be based.