Commentaries on Venous Leg Ulcers Diagnostic and Treatment Draft Guideline

A guideline on venous leg ulcer diagnosis and treatment was developed by a research team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., in collaboration with an interdisciplinary panel of wound care clinicians. Working from a consensus statement based on a literature review, the authors developed preliminary algorithms, which were reviewed by a national advisory panel. The draft guideline was prepared, and the authors now seek national peer review to address whether it is clinically relevant, useful, and represents current practice. The entire diagnostic draft guideline was published in the April issue of Ostomy/Wound Management; the entire treatment draft guideline in the May issue. After peer review and pilot testing, the guideline will be modified and validated in prospective clinical trials. Published here are a summary of the draft guideline (prepared by Diane K. Langemo, PhD, RN, Professor of Nursing at the University of North Dakota College of Nursing, Grand Forks, N.D.), the draft algorithms, and commentaries from five reviewers contacted by Advances in Wound Care