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Different types of wounds come with different options for wound care. Cuts, grazes, punctures, lacerations, and any necessary surgical incisions can cause problematic complications if not treated properly. The right wound care is key to avoiding infection and long-term complications.
Vascular surgeons have specialized expertise in treating wounds and understanding potential complications that may occur. Their knowledge and skill can provide you with individualized solutions. Here’s a bit more to help you understand what we do.
What is a Vascular Surgeon?
Vascular surgeons are doctors who have specialized in veins, arteries, and lymphatic circulation. As vascular systems are key to the body’s function and healing, these health care professionals are incredibly knowledgeable about the human body, and have particularly studied the intricacies of tending to wounds. They understand the consequences of failing to treat a wound properly, and carry out the safest and most helpful procedures for wound care.
How Does a Vascular Surgeon Perform Wound Care?
A vascular surgeon’s choice of wound treatment depends on the wound type. Through diagnostic testing, your vascular surgeon will decide which treatment is best. There are many surgical techniques vascular surgeons can perform to promote healing, but nonsurgical options are also available based on each individual case. In general, cleaning and dressing a wound (sometimes with stitches) will allow it to heal on its own. But for chronic wounds that last longer, vascular surgeons may employ:
- Compression therapy such as stockings or bandages to offset pressure on the veins.
- Wound debridement, or minor surgery that is meant to remove any non-living tissue surrounding the wound.
- Hydrogel or hydrocolloid dressings to help ulcers heal.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to stimulate oxygen concentration and improve blood supply to the wound area.
- Vacuum-assisted closure so that the wound is exposed to continuous suction to promote heating.
- Skin grafts in instances where a wound is so large it is unable to close on its own.
Other treatment options including topical antibiotics and alternate wound dressings may also be considered based on your wound’s type, severity, and location.
Why Is Quality Wound Care Important?
Adequate wound care from a vascular surgeon helps you avoid the risk of infection. Compared to cardiovascular health or cancer treatment, wound care may be seen as trivial, but dangerous bacteria can invade and infect even a small wound.
Infection even in otherwise healthy people can lead to serious health issues — and in the worst cases, even amputation. Those with complications such as diabetes especially need good wound care, since high blood sugar can impede their ability to heal.
But even if a wound does not become infected, if left untreated, it can also cause more pain and limit mobility. If a wound does not heal sufficiently in 4 weeks after the primary assessment and treatment of the wound, it can require more care.At Vascular Surgical Associates, our team is here to listen to your questions and address with care any worries you may have. Our professionals are experts not only in wounds, but in veins, arteries, blood, and lymphatic circulation. We can answer any questions you may have about your wound, and how to care for it properly. Call us at 770-423-0595 or visit us online to book an appointment.