Using a New Technique of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for the Management of Chronic, Non-healing Wounds

When considering optimal treatment conditions for acute and chronic wounds, certain criteria for readiness to heal are ideal. Most clinicians would agree these include a clean wound free from bacterial invasion, manageable amounts of exudate from the wound, and if necessary, is responsive to adjunctive treatments for secondary wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy has become an acceptable adjunctive therapy in the management of acute and chronic wounds. Review of the literature reveals that not many prospective, randomized trials exist for this therapy as most of what has been reported is anecdotal case reports. While results of this therapy is undisputed, more robust clinical data is warranted as new and different modes of NPWT are becoming available.

Methods:

This study represents data collected for a new technique of NPWT* based on an open, monocentric, prospective, clinical trial of 30 patients with chronic, non-healing wounds of different etiologies. Specific endpoints for this study included:

• ease of use with the new negative pressure system (pump and dressing)
• microbial and exudation control
• readiness for wound healing as evidenced by the eruption of clean granulation
• edema reduction
• patient’s quality of life (e.g. pain profile)

Results and Discussion:Results with this new NPWT* proved to be positive. The system was reported to be simple and easy to use. In all cases, adequate control of exudate was achieved and microbial load was manageable. Additionally, significant reduction of edema and wound size was appreciated in 92.3% of the cases. Wound reduction rate average was 64.9% with an average length of therapy of 42 days. 96.6% of patients reported improved wound comfort during the use of this new NPWT* system. Results with this new NPWT* proved to be positive. The system was reported to be simple and easy to use. In all cases, adequate control of exudate was achieved and microbial load was manageable. Additionally, significant reduction of edema and wound size was appreciated in 92.3% of the cases. Wound reduction rate average was 64.9% with an average length of therapy of 42 days. 96.6% of patients reported improved wound comfort during the use of this new NPWT* system.

Conclusion:

The use of a new system to deliver NPWT* was found to be an adequate adjunctive therapy for the treatment of patients with acute and chronic wounds.