Pain, Quality of Life, and Functional Capacity With Topical Sevoflurane Application for Chronic Venous Ulcers: A Retrospective Clinical Study

Chronic venous ulcers (CVU) commonly have poorly controlled pain. Thirty patients older than 65 years of age with painful CVU were reviewed. At the initial visit, cleaning without sevoflurane was performed. Cleaning visits with sevoflurane every 2 days for 1 month were scheduled. The results of subsequent treatment with sevoflurane at the first, second, seventh, and twelfth cleanings were analysed. Pain was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS), quality of life by the Charing Cross Venous Leg Ulcer Questionnaire, and functional capacity by the Barthel Index. Initial VAS was 8.8±1.3 points and at the twelfth cleaning VAS was 0.8±1 points (p=.001). Latency time ranged between 2 and 7 m and duration ranged between 8 and 18 h. It improved quality of life (83±14 points before treatment vs. 50±14 at the twelfth cleaning) and functional capacity (82±13.3 before treatment vs. 91±11.6 points at the twelfth cleaning) (p=.001). The safety profile was favourable with mild and self limited local cutaneous adverse effects, including pruritus, erythema, and heat. No systemic toxicity was detected. Topical sevoflurane may be a therapeutic alternative for painful CVU with a fast, intense, and long-lasting analgesic effect.