Venous ulcer healing treated with conventional therapy and adjuvant laser: is there a difference?

Cicatrización de úlceras venosas tratadas con terapia convencional y láser adyuvante: ¿Hay alguna diferencia?

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

to evaluate the effects of venous ulcer healing in patients after six months of conventional treatment and adjuvant low-power laser therapy.

Methods:

prospective cohort study nested in a randomized clinical trial with 38 patients, allocated into an intervention group (conventional treatment and adjuvant laser therapy) and a control group (conventional treatment). Patients were followed up as outpatients, sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, and indicators of the outcomes Wound healing: secondary intention (1103) and Tissue integrity: skin and mucous membranes(1101) of the Nursing Outcomes Classification. Generalized estimating equations, Kaplan-Meier tests, and robust Poisson regression were used in the analysis.

Results:

the clinical indicators Decreased wound size and Scar formation showed a statistically significant difference in the intervention group, higher number of healed wounds, lower rate, longer time to relapse.

Conclusions:

laser therapy adjuvant to conventional treatment returned better results in healing and lower recurrence rates after six months of intervention.

Descriptors:
Venous Ulcer; Nursing Care; Laser; Healing; Health Care Outcome Assessment