Delivery of intermittent or continuous atmospheric pressure via a specialized pump connected to a resilient foam surface dressing covered with adhesive drape to maintain a closed environment.
It is used for both acute and chronic wounds and involves applying either continuous or intermittent subatmospheric pressure to a wound that is beneath an occlusive dressing.
Utilizes a pump connected to a canister that collects wound exudates.
It provides mechanical enhancement to wound healing by increasing blood flow to the wound, maintains a moist environment, reduces tissue edema, and places the wound under tension that enhances healing.
An alternative to dressing.
May decrease bedside time on dressing changes, patient discomfort due to a reduction in the frequency of dressing changes.
Evidence suggests that negative wound pressure reduces wound exudate, debris, bacterial contamination while increasing vascular perfusion and granulation of the wound base.
A partial vacuum that may encourage the formation of granulation tissue.
In a randomized clinical trial of 460 adults there was no significant difference in self-rated disability between negative pressure wound therapy or standard wound dressing at 12 months.
Negative pressure wound therapy in the above study did not improve 12 month disability for patients with severe open fracture of the lower limb compared with standard wound dressing (WOLLF trial).
The use of incisional negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds associated with lower limb fractures from major trauma did not result in any significant difference from standard wound dressing (Whilst trial).