Case Study demonstrating the effectiveness of the Eclypse Boot

Gillian Crowe – Vascular Nurse Specialist, NHS Tayside

Introduction

Mrs DF is a 69year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis who is wheelchair/bedbound. She has mixed arteriovenous right leg ulcers, a venous left leg ulcer, a sacral pressure ulcer and bilateral heel pressure ulcers. These ulcers had been present for approximately 6months but all have deteriorated in the last 2months prior to review at vascular clinic. The right leg ulcers in particular had started to produce high levels of exudate necessitating planned alternate day visits and unplanned out of hours visits by 2 district nurses to renew dressings and manage manual handling risks.

An arterial duplex scan revealed a significant stenosis in the right superficial femoral artery and a patent left leg arterial system. Venous duplex showed long saphenous vein incompetence on both sides.

 

It was decided to continue conservative treatment with input from myself as the Vascular Nurse Specialist in the first instance and if continued deterioration in ulcers then further vascular investigation and possible radiological or surgical intervention would be considered.

Method

I arranged to jointly review leg ulcers with the 2 District Nurses at Mrs DF’s home the following week. On inspection there were high levels of exudate and strike through present. The left leg was showing signs of improvement since patient agreed to remain bedbound to assist with healing. I made no changes to wound management of the left leg. The primary dressing remained unchanged on the right leg but I immediately changed the secondary dressing to Eclypse Boot which immediately allowed the primary dressing to remain in place for 4 day intervals.

Conclusion

Within 2 months the right leg ulcers have shown tremendous improvement. In my opinion the Eclypse Boot allowed improved absorption resulting in less frequent dressing changes and increased effectiveness of primary dressing.