Wound Closure Urgency: Can Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Meet the Goal to Expedite Wound Closure in Three Complicated Cases?

Wound Closure Urgency: Can Negative Pressure Meet the Goal to Expedite Wound Closure in Three Complicated Cases?

Abstract: Three patients with full thickness sacral pressure ulcers were treated with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), to attain the goal of wound closure due to multiple complicating factors with each patient which made the goal of wound closure a timely concern. Patient #1:
·         79 year old male with non-healing full thickness sacral ulcer
·         Recent ventral hernia repair with complicated recovery
·         Past ulcer treatments: sulfadine cream and hydrocolloid dressings
·         NPWT days:37; result: decreased from 3 x 2 x 1 cm to 1.5 x 1 x <0.25 cm
Patient #2:
·         49 year old male with non-healing full thickness sacral ulcer
·         Recent surgery for removal of liver tumor
·         Past treatments: wet to dry dressing and ionized silver hydrofiber
·         NPWT days: 160 days; result: decreased from 11.2 x 8 x 3 with 4 cm tunnel at 10 o’ clock to 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.2 and resolved tunnel
Patient #3:
·         76 year old female with non-healing full thickness sacral ulcer
·         Recent surgical wide debridement of the sacral ulcer
·         Past treatments: ionized silver hydrofiber and enzymatic debridement
·         NPWT days: 61 days; result: decreased from 5.5 x 6 x 1.5 with 2 cm tunnel at 9 o’ clock to 1.2 x 1. 8 x 0.4 and resolved tunnel
Outcomes: With NPWT, these three patients were able to achieve the goal of aiding ulcer healing, within an abbreviated timeframe, despite concurrent complicating medical conditions.  All of the patients reported decreased pain throughout the length of therapy and have been able to improve their quality of life with the ulcers being resolved. Multiple past treatments and prolonged costs were unsuccessful to accelerate wound healing.