Microcirculatory changes in venous disease

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility to measure microcirculatory blood flow changes in patients with venous ulcers, by using the laser speckle imaging.

Methods: Nine patients with a leg ulcer were measured with the laser speckle imager in a sitting position before and after mimicking venous hypertension, with the legs raised, by applying a blood pressure cuff and inflating it to 60 mmHg.

Results: The results were inconclusive, due to the fact that a lot of practical problems interfered with the measurements, e.g. movement artefacts and inadequate wound visualisation.

Conclusion: The additional value of laser speckle imaging in daily practice for wound care still remains an important question for further research. A reliable, reproducible microcirculation measurement in venous ulcers might predict venous ulcer healing and recurrence and therefore would be a valuable diagnostic tool in daily practice.