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PRODUCT FOCUS
Abstract
Actico compression bandage system (Activa Healthcare) completes the prevention and treatment regime of venous leg ulcer management. Actico gives the patient comfort by being a simple two-layer compression bandage system that is also effective and which stays in place because of its cohesive nature. This product focus looks at the impact of venous leg ulcers, the use of compression and focuses on short-stretch bandages and the Actico bandage system.
Chronic ulceration of the leg is a painful and socially isolating condition that incurs considerable expense to the NHS (Taylor and Smyth, 2001). Leg ulceration is a common condition affecting 1% of the adult population at some time in their life (Cullum and Roe, 1995).
The effective treatment of lower limb ulceration is highly dependent upon establishing the aetiology of the wound and the identification of other associated conditions that may have an adverse effect on healing (Vowden and Vowden, 2001). Leg ulcers can be venous in origin, arterial, or a mixture of both, and may result from other causes, such as skin malignancies, blood disorders, infection, metabolic disorders, lymphoedema, and iatrogenic and self-inflicted ulceration (Moffatt, 2001).
Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that vascular disease, and in particular venous disease, accounts for about 70% of lower limb ulcers (Callam et al, 1985; Vowden and Vowden, 2001).
COMPRESSION
It has long been recognized that graduated compression, from toe to knee, is an effective way to manage venous leg ulceration (Moffatt, 2001). The aims of treatment are to: reduce blood pressure in the superficial venous system; aid venous blood return to the heart by increasing the velocity of flow in deep veins; and reduce oedema by reducing the pressure differences between capillaries and tissue.
Bandages can be described as different types and classes (Table 1). The type of bandage chosen will depend on many things: clinical effectiveness; patient choice; patient compliance; local protocols and guidelines; availability; nurse's knowledge and skills in application; and cost-effectiveness.
There are several ways of achieving compression. Four-layer bandages work on the principle that elastic bandages absorb the energy from the calf muscle and then spring back into the original position, forcing blood back to the heart. They are designed to stay in place for a week and...