A Novel Portable NPWT Pump Delivers Efficient Wound Healing Support in Complicated Wounds

STATEMENT OF CLINICAL PROBLEM:  Complicated wounds with a long healing course such as post-operative wound infections can be treated with NPWT utilizing a proven sequence therapy program.  Can a new portable NPWT pump** be safely and efficiently used with this sequence therapy program to treat complicated wounds?

PAST MANAGEMENT: A gauze based 3x3 negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) program (3 times NPWT dressing changes, each over 3 days, then secondary suture) was proven to be effective (over 80% healing rate) and became part of our hospital routine [* Abstract shown SAWC, 2011].

CLINICAL APPROACH:  A new portable NPWT pump** was evaluated on three patients in our hospital system. Management of the wounds was in the hands of our established and specialized wound team. The new portable NPWT pump** was used in conjunction with a sequential dressing protocol which included the application of  PU foam  post operation/debridement to guarantee good exudate management and cessation of hemorrhage (changed every 2 – 3 days after the first high exudate wound healing phase). Next, NPWT together with a PVA foam was utilized (changed every 3 – 5 days). Finally, during later bed-side NPWT dressing changes, a gauze based system, which is easy and quick to apply was used (changed every 3 – 5 days).

PATIENT OUTCOMES:Details of three cases of patients with various wounds (a combination of in-patient and out-patient cases) will demonstrate the great spectrum of wounds, which may be safely treated with the new portable device**.

CONCLUSION: These cases demonstrate, for the first time, a new portable NPWT pump** to be highly useful in supporting wound healing in complicated wounds in various care settings.

 Acknowledgements: The support of Medela AG (Baar, Switzerland) for this project is gratefully acknowledged. ** Invia® Motion™