The Concurrent Use of Ovine Collagen Extracellular Matrix Dressing with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing on Acute Surgical Wounds

The Concurrent Use of Ovine Collagen Extracellular Matrix Dressing with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing on Acute Surgical Wounds

Creating an optimal environment for wound healing is critical to achieve positive outcomes in the postoperative surgical patient. Continuous wound healing prevents infection, wound stalling, and potential conversion into a chronic wound.  Healthy granulation tissue within the wound bed will facilitate wound closure. The combination of two proposed wound care modalities in an appropriately prepared wound bed can enhance the growth of healthy granulation tissue and result in desired wound outcomes.  

Ovine collagen extracellular matrix (OCEM) dressing functions to encourage and support the formation of granulation tissue growth. The intact natural structure of the matrix regulates intracellular communication, provides a scaffolding to support cell growth of granulation tissue, and reduces matrix metalloproteases (MMPs).

The use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) dressings has been well established in facilitating tissue growth. The mechanism of cell distortion under the negative pressure results in infiltration of growth factors, increasing cell mitosis and angiogenesis, resulting in formation of granulation tissue. Excess extracellular fluid containing MMPs and inflammatory cells are removed.

The concurrent use of OCEM and NPWT can provide an environment conducive for optimal wound healing to occur. Three surgical wound case studies to include abdominal and leg wounds will be presented using an OCEM dressing with a NPWT dressing resulting in the formation of granulation tissue growth necessary for wound healing.