What should be evaluated when a patient who has sickle cell disease arrives with a leg ulcer?
All patients should be evaluated for the more common systemic complications. The organs commonly affected by microcirculatory vascular occlusions are: • Marrow • Spleen • Lungs • Kidneys • Brain (usually affected at the level of the large blood vessels) Therefore, the status of the lungs, kidney, brain (such as stroke), bones, and liver should be documented by the wound care practitioner upon the patient’s entry into the wound program.
