Doppler Vascular Evaluation

Doppler vascular ultrasound produces images of blood flowing through the organs and blood vessels in order to identify blood clots, insufficient blood flow, blockages and determine the cause of varicose and spider veins. While similar to a traditional ultrasound procedure, a Doppler ultrasound allows doctors and patients to evaluate blood flowing through the blood vessels in real time.

This procedure is performed by applying gel to the targeted area and moving a transducer across the skin while the patient lies very still in order to produce images of the blood vessels. This procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes to perform and results are visible on the screen for the doctor and patient to view together. This procedure produces clear images of the blood vessels that cannot be obtained from any other imaging procedure, and does not use any ionizing radiation while doing so.

Dermagraft®

Dermagraft is a dermal substitute used to treat diabetic foot ulcers that extend through the dermis and have not healed in over six weeks. Made of human fibroblast cells derived from newborn foreskin tissue, these cells are then applied to a mesh scaffold and filled in with human dermal collagen, growth factors and other living cells. The Dermagraft substitute is distributed in a frozen form to preserve the living cells that act as a dermal substitute for the targeted wound.

When combined with traditional therapies, Dermagraft heals more chronic ulcers than with traditional therapy alone, and is effective for ulcers located anywhere on the foot. It helps to effectively restore the dermal bed and promote proper healing of the wound. After being applied to the wound, the Dermagraft substitute is protected with traditional dressings and applied on a weekly basis until the ulcer is healed.

Apligraf®

Apligraf is a skin repair therapy that uses natural ingredients found in healthy human skin to heal difficult wounds such as diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers that have been unresponsive to traditional healing therapies after three to four weeks. Unlike wound therapies that are administered as a cream or traditional dressing, Apligraf wound therapy looks like a thin piece of real skin and is placed directly over the wound to stimulate the skin to repair and heal itself by delivering growth factors, cells, nutrients and proteins directly into the wound.

The Apligraf treatment contains an outer layer of protective skin cells and an inner layer of cells, just like your natural skin. Once applied to the wound, the Apligraf substance is covered with a non-adhesive dressing and then wrapped with other dressing to keep Apligraf in place and promote healing in a clean and moist environment. Apligraf offers patients effective results with no major side effects because of its natural consistency.

Oasis® Porcine Dressings

The Oasis Wound Matrix is a new material used to cover hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic ulcers and vascular ulcers, and other types of full and partial thickness burns and wounds. Oasis dressings are made from a porcine-derived acellular small intestine submucosa that is compatible with human tissue. Unlike other porcine-derived materials, the Oasis dressing is naturally occurring.

With Oasis porcine dressings, a moist environment is maintained around the wound so that the patient’s cells can replace the damaged tissue much faster than normal. This is especially helpful for diabetic patients, who often go through months or even years of frustration concerning the healing of chronic wounds. It is important to make sure that the wound area is clean and free of debris before the Oasis dressing is applied, or the dressing may not be able to heal the wound.

Advanced Wound Care and Dressings

Many patients with skin ulcers, burns and other types of wounds face difficulty with the healing process for these troubling wounds, especially if the patient is diabetic. There are several different treatment options available for wounds resistant to conventional therapies. Some of these may include creams, ointments, synthetic skin grafts and other therapies that promote natural healing within the skin to avoid wound complications.

At Ventura County Wound Management, we are proud to offer patients many advanced solutions to their wound healing problems. It is important for wounds to remain clean and free of debris and bacteria in order to properly heal and prevent infection, so proper dressings that are changed on a regular basis are essential. We provide a clean, moist environment that is conducive to healing for most wounds and helps lead toward a quick and efficient recovery.

Debridement In Office

Debridement removes dead tissue from ulcers, burns and other wounds to promote the healing process and reduce the risk of infection. When dead tissue on a wound is exposed to air, it forms a hard crust called an eschar that can hinder healing and lead to bacteria, infection and abscesses. While debridement seems beneficial to the healing process, not all wounds need this procedure. Some wounds can benefit from a hardened, stable crust of dead tissue, while others may have an insufficient blood flow if debridement is performed.

Debridement can be performed through surgical, mechanical, chemical or autolytic methods, depending on the health and severity of the wound. Surgical debridement is the quickest and most efficient type of procedure, which involves the use of a scalpel, scissors or other instrument to cut dead tissue from a wound. Other methods may include applying chemicals or special dressings to the wound for a certain period of time to allow dead tissue to be removed.

Back to Top

• Doppler Vascular Evaluation
• Dermagraft®
• Apligraf®
• Oasis® Porcine Dressings
• Advanced Wound Care and Dressings
• Debridement In Office

Our Office Address
2220 Lynn Road, Suite #102
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Tel: 805.494.1222
Fax: 805.494.1255