Abstract: Background and Aim: Lower limb diabetic ulcers are very difficult to treat due to the poor vascularity and brittle granulation tissue formed during the healing phase. So a novel method is needed apart from conventional dressings to enhance the healing process. Objectives of current study were to estimate the length of hospital stay and antibiotic requirement among patients with lower limb diabetic foot ulcers, to estimate the length of hospital stay and antibiotic requirement among patients with diabetic foot ulcers managed with Heparin dressing and to compare the effect of topical heparin dressing over conventional dressing in diabetic foot ulcers.
Material and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was done among patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers admitted in the surgical ward of a teaching institution of Tertiary care hospital India. Total of 200 patients were included in the study and were divided in to two study groups, for Group 1 only conventional dressing was done, for Group 2 topical heparin solution was applied, for both groups glycemic control and antiboitics were added accordingly and monitored.
Results: Majority (80%) of the study participants were male of which 46.25% of the received heparin treatment. The mean hospital stay was higher in conventional group compared to Heparin group. Of the total study participants, majority (75%) received empirical sensitive antibiotics while only 25% had the drug revised by culture and sensitivity, of which majority 36 (72%) belonged to the conventional group of treatment.
Conclusion: The group having the application of heparin dressing showed significantly better granulation tissue development, faster reduction of ulcer area and shorter duration of hospitals stay, as compared to conventional dressing using povidone iodine.
