title: All about compression: A literature review.
abstract: Lower extremity ulcers represent a significant public health problem as they frequently progress to chronicity, significantly impact daily activities and comfort, and represent a huge financial burden to the patient and the health system. The aim of this review was to discuss the best approach for venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Online searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCO CINAHL, and reference lists and official guidelines. Keywords considered for this review were VLU, leg ulcer, varicose ulcer, compressive therapy, compression, and stocking. A complete assessment of the patient's overall health should be performed by a trained practitioner, focusing on history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dietetic habits, medications, and practice of physical exercises, followed by a thorough assessment of both legs. Compressive therapy is the gold standard treatment for VLUs, and the ankle-brachial index should be measured in all patients before compression application.
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: magalirecar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Magali Rezende
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabelle Silveira
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alcione Matos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea Pinto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Leite Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Utzeri
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Post graduate department of Academic Master's Program in Health Care Sciences, Escola de Enfermagem Aurora de Afonso Costa (EEAAC), Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Guitton Renaud Baptista
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index / Q000379:methods; D058128:Compression Bandages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing