Compression and Chronic Wound Management

Compression is essential - the physics of compression to treat venous hypertension.- The use of compression in venous leg ulcers - the inadequacy of current compression systems especially in tropical nations.- The use of compression to manage varicose veins - do currently available compression garments suit tropical climates?.- Using compression to manage chronic wounds in China - Perspectives of compression use in chronic wound management - plastic surgeon's perspectives.- Perspectives of compression use in chronic wound management - plastic surgeon's perspectives.- Delivering compression to treat chronic wounds in the UK.- Compression to manage lymphoedema.- Compression for managing scars.- Difficult to compress legs.- Advances in materials for compression systems.- Current concepts of intermittent pneumatic compression devices.- Compression use in Traditional Medicine Systems - Views from Ayurveda, Chinese and other medicine systems.- Appendices.- Bandaging systems currently available.- Devices available for limb compression.

This book evaluates the various evidence-based arguments for the use of compression to treat chronic wounds. It describes the growing health burden caused by these lesions with vast sums spent on wound management and its associated complexities around the world. Since compression is the mainstay of treatment in venous conditions ranging from varicose veins through venous leg ulcers, the authors have also evaluated the use of compression techniques in the successful management of lymphoedema and certain orthopaedic conditions.

Compression and Chronic Wound Management provides a balanced text on how to apply scientific knowledge to ensure pragmatic clinical practice. It therefore represents an essential resource for residents, specialists and researchers in wound management, whether they are dermatologist, vascular medicine physicians and surgeons, or orthopaedic practitioners.

Raj Mani has devoted a lifetime to promoting the concept of measurements in medicine with a focus on vascular conditions within the context of non-invasive methods. His personal contributions were focused on microvascular measurements of blood flow and tissue oxygen: the latter is now a routine diagnostic technique recommended for the management of chronic diabetic foot wounds. Raj was instrumental in bringing the Cochrane Wounds Group together under the auspices of the European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) which he later became the President (2007-09). Raj is currently an Adjunct Professor at Chiang Mai University while continuing to be Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. He is also an Advisory Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine where, currently with Professor Shuliang Lu, he is advising on developing standardised wound healing in China.Kittipan Rerkasem is the Chief of Vascular Surgery in Chiang Mai University Hospital where he is also the Director of Research. He has published widely in this area. He is an alumnus of the University of Southampton. He has 90 publications in SCOPUS database with citation 2,485 times (exclude self-citations) H-Index is 24. Fields of interest are chronic leg ulcer, peripheral arterial disease, venous ulcer, and vascular disease in HIV patients.

Dr Hari Nair is a Consultant and Head of the Wound Care Unit at Kuala Lumpur Hospital Malaysia. Following his interest in wound healing, Dr Nair completed post graduate training in Cardiff. On his return, Hari Nair was instrumental in setting up a Wound Healing program in Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia. The success of this clinical program is highlighted by its uptake in other countries around Malaysia, a specialist training program designed by Dr Nair and re-invigoration of the Asian Wound Care Association that undertakes training of specialists in Asia. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Surgery, Banares Hindu University and the Chairman of the ASEAN Wound Council. Hari Nair has published papers, books and delivered several invited lectures in Asia and Europe. His publications include Author of the Maggot Debridement Therapy Book, Compendium of Wound Care dressings and Modalities, Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle, Diabetic Foot Asian Perspective Chapters in the 7th Practical Diabetes India, Diabetic Foot NUH Singapore, Ostomy, Wound Book USA. He and the entomologists from the Institute of Medical Research was also awarded the WHO DR. Lee Joon Wok memorial award for public health for maggot therapy.

Vijay Shukla is a general surgeon with research and clinical interests in cancer of the gall bladder and wound management. His early training includes a period in Wales where he completed a Master in Chirurgy (MCh). Vijay has published widely in his career and is currently the Director of the Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi.