Atherosclerosis and wound healing, wounds, ulcers, injuries, chronic wounds, non healing wounds, vascular doppler study, ct scan, cat scan, mri, Dr Alexander, cochin, India+

Blood vessels are like roads that lead ‘to and fro’ from the damaged wound sites. The body sends workers and supplies to repair the damaged site by these blood vessels. Further adequate oxygen (carried by red blood cells) cannot reach the wound site and good oxygenation is required for proper functioning of all cells. If blood supply to the wound area is decreased from any reason then the ‘worker cells and specialist cells’ as well as nutrients and repair materials cannot easily reach the wound to begin the process of repair and healing effectively. Wounds like the one shown below need to be properly investigated before a treatment plan is made.

 

Atherosclerosis is a condition usually seen in elderly individuals where blood flow is reduced due to the narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels from abnormal depositions (atheromas) in the vessel wall. This result in reduced blood supply to the wound area which in turn hampers wound healing. Smokers, individuals with high blood pressure and those who have a high cholesterol are high risk cases for atherosclerosis.

  Poor blood flow to the wounds can be diagnosed by a number of ways. Clinical examination will show the pulses to be absent or feeble when compared to the opposite side, leg or arm, unless both sides have a poor blood flow. Other investigations like vascular Doppler study, angiography where a dye is pushed into the vessel and xrays are taken, by itself or in combination with cat scan or mri,  all are helpful in delineating the blood vessels and evaluating the blood flow.

when dealing with chronic wounds that fail to heal,  one must evaluate the blood flow which may be the culprit. In some cases blood flow to an area can be increased by using medications or by surgery and this can aid in healing chronic non healing wounds.