The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society(TM) (WOCN(R)) is a leader in the development of evidence-based guidelines for the management of wounds due to arterial venous and neuropathic diseases. In 2000, the Society established a process to develop evidence-based guidelines based on level-of-evidence rating evidence and generating evidence based recommendations for practice. The Guideline for Management of Wounds in Patients with Lower-Extremity Arterial Disease (LEAD) is the first of the 4 documents produced by the Society. It was published in 2002 and updated in 2008. The second document in the series, Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers, was released in June 2003 and updated in 2010. The third document, Guideline for Management of Wounds in Patients with Lower-Extremity Neuropathic Disease, was published in 2004 and updated in 2012. The fourth in the series, Guideline for Management of Wounds in Patients with Lower-Extremity Venous Disease was published in 2005 and updated in 2011.

All 4 guidelines have been accepted for publication on the National Guidelines Clearing House web page (http://guidelines.gov) and all of WOCN guidelines are summarized on that site. These guidelines are updated every 5 years by a panel of experts and are meant to support clinical practice by providing consistent research-based information with the goal of improved, cost-effective patient outcomes as well as to stimulate increased wound research.

To assist in the differential diagnosis of lower-extremity wounds, panel members developed an algorithm found in Appendix A of all 4 guideline books. The panel believes it is necessary to understand etiology before initiating specific therapies. The panel encourages readers to become familiar with the differential diagnosis process, whether or not the algorithm is used.

On behalf of the primary authors of each guideline and all of the members of the Wound Guideline Task Force, I invite you to add these important documents to your library, teach their contents to the staff and administration of your institution or affiliations, and ultimately incorporate the suggestions and recommendations into your practice.

Margaret T. Goldberg, MSN, RN, CWOCN

How to Get the Complete Guidelines

How to Get the Complete Guidelines

This is a synopsis of wound prevention and management for patients with lower-extremity venous disease. The complete guideline was published June 1, 2011 and can be purchased at WOCN Society's website (http://www.wocn.org) or from WOCN 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C., Mount Laurel, NJ 08054.