The comparative impact of conservative treatment versus superficial venous surgery, for the treatment of venous leg ulcers: A systematic review of the impact on patients’ quality of life

Abstract

Objectives: Leg ulcers are known to have a profound effect on patients’ quality of life; however, the influence of different treatment approaches is unclear. This review aims to evaluate the comparative impact of conservative treatments and superficial venous surgery, for venous leg ulcers, on patients’ Quality of Life. Data sources: Three electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline and CINAHL), and reference lists of relevant articles, were searched. A total of 209 articles were initially identified, and 16 articles were included in the review. Results: The results lend cautious support to the suggestion that all treatments have a positive effect on quality of life, regardless of type, whilst wound status also appears to be an important factor. Conclusions: Some evidence suggests that surgical treatment methods may lead to greater improvements in patients’ quality of life than compression bandaging alone; however, future research may focus on the psychological mechanisms underlying such changes.