Swelling Comes in Many Forms
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Venous Ulcer
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Venous Disease
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Lymphedema
Chronic Venous Disease
Venous swelling can be the result of damaged vein valves allowing the back-flow (reflux) and pooling of blood in the lower leg. This pooling causes the venous pressure to increase, weakening the veins and further compromising the venous blood-flow.
If the swelling is not managed it can become Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), which requires intervention / management. CVI can manifest in different levels of severity. Due to the progressive nature of the disease, unmanaged venous swelling and hypertension can lead to venous ulcers, which are open sores that are often slow to heal.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is when fluid builds up in the the lymph system and is unable to adequately drain. This typically occurs in the arms or legs. There are various causes of lymphedema: Congenital, Post Surgery, Radiation, Infections.
Current preventative methods include manual lymphatic drainage, lymphatic pumps, and compression stockings. The drawbacks surrounding these measures are that manual drainage requires a trained expert, lymphatic pumps are restrictive, and typical compression stockings often are too tight and difficult to put on.
Why Compression Works
Compression therapy is the application of external pressure to the leg. It works by acting as an outside support to prevent swelling and by enhancing the body's natural ability to return fluid from the legs against gravity, with two important methods of action:
1. A Supporting Effect – helps to reduce the available limb volume to manage the amount of leg swelling.
2. A Dynamic Effect – that compression causes that helps improve circulation of blood and fluid, particularly when the user walks around. Compression squeezes the circulatory system into better contact with the muscles (for example, calf with lower-leg compression) to improve the body’s efficacy of fluid movement. Those with chronic venous disease may not get fully effective circulation without compression.
Gradient compression is a standard treatment and prevention for lower-leg venous disease and lymphedema. Gradient compression squeezes more at the ankle and less towards the knee, helping move blood back towards the heart.
How Compression Helps Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
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CVI means High Standing Pressure and Backflow at Rest
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Activity does not properly improve venous return for high pressure relief
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Compression can improve venous return for patients with CVI
Treating Venous Leg Ulcers
Venous ulcers don't heal like a normal cut, because they aren't like a normal cut. Venous leg ulcers are open sores associated with underlying venous disease. There is a lot of detail involved, but the basics are pretty simple, to heal a venous leg ulcer one has to:
1. Manage the wound, providing a healthy place for skin to regrow
2. Manage the underlying venous disease, reversing the venous hypertension at the root of the problem.
Why Sun Scientific's Wound Care Solution is Better:
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Self applied, adjustable, measured compression
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Clinical level of compression, doesn't lose stretch
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Easy to open and close, allows for changing
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AeroBolster™ dressing for localized compression
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Can change dressings more frequently
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Removable for showering and reapplication
Venous Ulcer Success Stories
Venous Ulcer Case Study: 49 Days to Wound Closure!
A 79-year-old female with chronic venous insufficiency and a large circumferential venous ulcer chose Aero-Wrap™ after 2 years of no luck with other treatments.
She used the Aero-Wrap ™ with the Aerogauge™ on the highest pressure of 40-50mmHg. The dressings needed to be changed every 4-5 days in the beginning and once a week toward the end of healing.
Previous treatments that had failed include 2-layer and 4-layer compression bandages applied once weekly by visiting nurse services.
"I've suffered from a recurring venous ulcer for 20 years" - Sarah K.
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Before Using Aero-Wrap
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After trying countless methods, Sarah was discouraged and defeated.
It wasn't until she found Aero-Wrap that she finally found something that worked for her and would help to prevent the ulcers from recurring.
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After using Aero-Wrap for only 3 weeks