What it means
A wound in which the surface tissue has worn away, leaving a crater. On the skin, ulcers form from pressure (pressure injuries), poor blood flow in the arteries or veins, or diabetes (foot ulcers). Inside the body, a peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine.
For the nurse
Measure the ulcer (length, width, depth), and describe the wound bed, drainage, smell and the skin around it. Turn clients who cannot move at least every 2 hours, and check the feet of clients with diabetes every day.
In a chart
"Venous ulcer to left medial ankle, 3 cm × 2 cm, moderate serous drainage."
At a glance
| Spanish | úlcera |
|---|---|
| Also written | ulcers, ulceration, ulcerated |