The Impact of a Unique New Disposable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device on Patient Tolerance of Therapy and Quality of Life

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been shown to be effective in the management of wound exudate, formation of new granulation tissue and wound size reduction.  Clinicians have long learned to rely on the therapy for consistency in outcomes and a creative approach for  almost all wound types with reassuringly predictive outcomes.

Many new NPWT devices have emerged into the clinical arena with differences in pump styles and wound bed interface dressings providing options for different patient needs.  One new option is a  lightweight disposable device which early in our practice usage has filled a void for a variety of patient who have either failed our standard NPWT device or had lifestyle or employment restrictions which prohibited its use.

Five cases will demonstrate the impact that this hydrocolloid based device can have on patient lives; 1) an elderly gentleman with a large abdominal wound and large exteriorized fistula who had for six years endured daily home care visits to change dressings and clean him of stool and wound exudate, 2) a young man with a deep tunneling leg wound working two jobs to support his young family, 3) a determined woman with a non-functioning arm secondary to soft tissue and osteoradionecrosis to her shoulder and chest with a deep necrotic wound to her right axilla, 4) an active patient post below knee amputation living alone with a non-healing wound to her residual limb and 5) a gentleman with a stage 4 pressure ulcer to his left ischium who is homeless and has no reliable source of electricity  to run a powered system.

The impact that this novel device had on the lives and activities of these patients will be demonstrated in brief case reports and photographs.