title: Sudden increase in skin temperature predicts venous ulcers: a case study.
abstract: Venous ulcers affect approximately 2.5 million adults with chronic venous disease (CVD). Venous ulcers are a significant health problem with a reoccurrence rate as high as 72%. There is a critical need for a prediction/prevention model of venous ulcers that includes objective methods to assess the skin. Among individuals affected by CVD, skin temperature is elevated in the lower extremities. This case study of a patient with CVD highlights the potential predictive usefulness and feasibility of measuring skin temperature with an infrared dermal thermometer as part of the standard of care for venous ulcer prevention.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Sayre
authors.forename: Teresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kelechi
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neal
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control