engleski

Treatment of chronic venous leg ulcer with hand- held dielectric barrier discharge plasma generator (PLASMA-DERM® VU-2010)

Aim: We demonstrated the healing of chronic venous leg ulcer (CVLU) by using the PlasmaDerm® VU 2010, a hand-held dielectric barrier discharge plasma generator (DBD)'. Method: The CVLU of two patients were treated by using DBD, until complete healing. The ulcers persist four and eight years without tendency to heal. Before first application of DBD the bacterial specimen was collected, fibrin layer was removed and ulcers were cleaned with saline solution. The treatment with DBD was performed 3 times weekly during exudative phase and 1-2 times during non-exudative phase (granulation, epithelization) of wound healing, 120 seconds per application. For wound dressing we use Mepilex®2 during exudative stage and sterile gauze with saline solution during non-exudative stage of ulcers with compression therapy using short stretched bandage. Two times monthly we collected bacterial specimen immediately after dressing removal and measured wound size with repeated photo documentation. Pain during and between treatments visits was documented at every visit using a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0-10. Results/Discussion: At baseline, ulcer size was 16 cm2 and 40 cm2. Both of ulcers had bacterial colonization and moderate exudation with pain. After one months of treatment exudation and pain were significantly lower and control microbial samples were sterile. Three months later we started with saline solution dressings. Ulcers were healed after six and eight months. Six months follow up showed no recurrence. Wound healing is a complex physiological process that involves a series of cellular and molecular events. The key phases that are crucial are inflammation, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, epithelization and dermal remodelling. DBD acts in each phases of wound healing (stimulates microcirculation, have anti inflammatory effect, stimulates cell migration and proliferation, increases collagen synthesis and improve re-epithelization). Conclusion: We demonstrated that treatment with PlasmaDerm® VU-2010 device is non-invasive, painless and due to the broad spectrum of activity treatment is effective in all phases of wound healing.

chronic venous leg ulcer ; wound healing ; hand-held dielectric barrier discharge plasma generator

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