Protocol Proposal For The Care Of The Person With Venous Ulcer

Objective: To propose a care protocol for the care of the person with a venous ulcer in highly complex services. Methods and results: This is a methodological study, in three stages: literature review, validation of content and validation in the clinical context. The literature review was carried out from June to August/2011, being the basis for the construction of the Protocol for Venous Ulcers. The content validation included 53 judges (44 nurses, 8 physicians and 1 physiotherapist) selected through the Lattes platform to evaluate the items of the protocol. Validation in the clinical context occurred at the University Hospital Onofre Lopes, in Natal/RN with four judges (nurses), who worked in pairs, evaluating 32 patients with venous ulcers. The protocol was validated with 15 categories: sociodemographic data; anamnesis; examinations; ulcer characteristics; care with the lesion and perilesional area; medicines used to treat the lesion; evaluation and treatment of pain; surgical treatment of chronic venous disease; recurrence prevention (clinical and educational strategies); reference; counter-reference; and quality of life. Conclusion: The validated protocol regarding content and clinical context was applicable. Its implementation is a viable measure that assists in the reorientation of the team in high complexity services, aiming at wound healing and restoration of the patient´s integral health. Keywords: Varicose ulcer; Tertiary Health Care; Protocols; Validation studies.