Patient/caregiver was educated on risk factors and causes for development of statis dermatitis as follows:
- Stasis dermatitis is a skin condition caused by inadequate drainage of blood or lymph and increased accumulation of fluid in any part of the body.
- Small veins help with drainage of venous blood from different body parts into the major veins (vena cava) of the body, which finally drain into the heart. Valves are present in veins helping to push the blood forward, towards the destination, heart.
- Lymph helps with collecting protein and water that leak out of circulation in various body parts. Lymph also collects waste products from various body parts, back into circulation, to help with their elimination. Tiny lymph vessels that run throughout the body drain lymph into larger lymph vessels and valves present in lymph vessels help push the lymph forward.
- In individuals with defective valves of veins and/or lymph vessels, fluid (blood/lymph) is not pushed or drained enough, which results in back-up of fluid. Chronic obstruction to fluid drainage and consequent back-up of fluid result in damage to the vessels and leaking of fluid into the surrounding tissues and skin.
- Contraction of muscles around the veins and lymph vessels can also help with squeezing the blood & lymph vessels, thus pushing the fluid forward. Bedridden and paralyzed individuals cannot contract their muscles effectively, thus contributing to poor fluid drainage and fluid back-up in the vessels. This can lead to damage of the vessels and leaking of fluid into the surrounding tissues and skin.
