Allegheny General Advanced Wound Healing and Lymphedema Center

If you have a wound that is slow to heal or doesn’t respond to traditional therapies, you can get help at Allegheny General Hospital’s (AGH) Advanced Wound Healing and Lymphedema Center. AGH is part of the Allegheny Health Network (AHN).

What is a nonhealing wound?

A wound is considered to be chronic, or nonhealing, if it persists after four weeks despite treatments. Nonhealing wounds, sometimes called ulcers, can be painful and are prone to infections. The certified wound specialists at AGH treat:

• Foot and leg ulcers often caused by diabetes or poor blood circulation
• Surgical wounds that are slow to heal
• Pressure ulcers caused from prolonged immobility
• Lymphedema (chronic swelling of the arms or legs) 
• Trauma-induced wounds

Wound care at Allegheny General: Why choose us?

At the AGH Advanced Wound Healing and Lymphedema Center, we create individualized care plans that promote wound healing. We offer:

• Patient-focused care: We conduct a thorough health assessment to identify factors that hinder healing. These factors may include conditions such as diabetes and autoimmune disorders, as well as tobacco use and certain medications. We use this information to tailor a care plan specific to your unique needs.
• Skilled team of specialists: Our certified wound and vascular specialists work closely with other AGH physicians, including experts in: 
  • cardiovascular disease
  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • orthopaedic
  • plastic surgery
• Collaboration with community providers: We partner with your primary care or referring physician to address issues that can impede wound healing. These conditions include high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and tobacco use.
• Home health services: Our home health services program, Healthcare@Home, can provide wound care at your home if appropriate. These specialists can monitor wounds for infection and show you and your caregivers how to properly care for wounds . When needed, our team helps arrange medical supplies and equipment. 

Advanced wound healing services 

We offer a wide range of specialty wound care services and therapies, including:

• Compression therapy: Your physician may recommend compression bandages, garments, wraps, and pumps to reduce swelling and promote blood circulation.
• Debridement: During this procedure, we remove necrotic (dead) tissue to promote the growth of healthy tissue and reduce infection risk. 
• Dermal products: Advanced cellular- and tissue-based skin substitutes foster healing in wounds that may be resistant to traditional care.
• Electrical stimulation: Electrodes deliver small pulses of low-frequency electrical current to the wound to accelerate healing.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Approximately 10 percent of people with nonhealing wounds benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This time-intensive treatment increases blood oxygen levels to heal wounds from the inside. We offer this treatment in partnership with AGH’s pulmonary department.
• Lymphedema therapy: Lymphedema occurs when blockages in the lymphatic system cause swelling and pain in the arms or legs. Infections, heart failure, and traumatic injuries can cause lymphedema. Our physical therapists, certified in wound and lymphedema care, offer complete decongestive therapy. We also use compression garments and compression pumps to relieve swelling and pain. 
• Ultrasound therapy: The UltraMIST® system uses a low-frequency, ultrasound-generated saline mist to eliminate infection-causing bacteria. We also offer direct ultrasound to assist in wound healing. 
• Wound care products: Depending on your situation, you may need topical gels or foams, casts, or special wound coverings. 
• Burn treatments: Our team of wound specialists also care for people with burn injuries. People with severe burn injuries receive specialized treatments at the West Penn Burn Center. 

AGH wound center hours and location

We are conveniently located within Allegheny General Hospital’s South Tower CVI 1, near the Sandusky Street entrance. We offer discounted valet parking, and wheelchair transportation is available upon request.

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm

Contact us

Call (412) 359-HEAL (412) 359-4325 to schedule an appointment at the AGH Advanced Wound Healing and Lymphedema Center. 

Find us

Allegheny General Hospital
320 East North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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