NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY

Clinical Experience of a New Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System in Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Post Amputation Wounds

Abstract

The main criteria and objective behind this comprehensive study was to access the benefits and outcomes while using the new Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) with the foot ulcers and post amputation wounds. Furthermore, another aim of the study was to determine the level of pains, extent of the exudates removal and the flexible applications of the NPWT for both the patient and the care giver.

Clinical Experience of a New Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System in Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Post Amputation Wounds

Introduction

The negative pressure therapy involves placing the surface of a wound at a pressure less than the ambient atmospheric pressure. For this, a specially made dressing is connected to a vacuum source and a system for collecting exudates. The use of negative pressure wound therapy should occur only after having considered, and in some cases tried conventional treatments.

Chronic wounds such as the pressure ulcers, diabetic foot wounds, and penetrating wounds are a significant health problem. For the patient, these wounds are painful and require most of the time a lengthy processes which are expensive.

In recent years, an increasing number of hospitals have begun using the treatment of negative pressure wound. The principle is that the wound is covered with a foam pad under a transparent adhesive dressing. The pad is connected to a special vacuum pump used to suck the wound. This relatively a new technique is commonly applied to the hospital but can also be used in the patient's home (Parahoo 2006, pp. 5).

Literature Review

NPWT is the topical treatment of skin lesions to stimulate the healing process through the application of a controlled sub-atmospheric pressure on the wound bed. Several independent authors agree on this definition. Despite the spread of NPWT, its applications were initiated in the mid 90's, creating an inevitable increase of publications.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy has two forms that alter primarily in the blazon of alertness acclimated to alteration NPWT to the anguish apparent (foam or gauze). One was developed by Dr. Louis Argenta and Dr. Michael Morykwas of University Wake Forest School of Medicine. His aboriginal base analysis advised the aftereffect of sub-atmospheric burden in the breeze to the anguish area, abatement of the claret of bacilli from the anguish site, and apocalyptic of the accumulation of granulation tissue. However, adjunctive therapy Suction negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT called) proved to be effective in rapid healing (wide), acute and chronic wounds. For over 50 years appeared in numerous publications sheds light on the clinical benefits of speed and control wound exudates through the use of vacuum, surrounded by moist and closed wounds, VAC therapy. Using NPWT as alternative or additional techniques practiced across the spectrum of treatments for wounds, you can improve the rate of wound closure. This will contribute substantially to the well-being of patients, their careers and the satisfaction of the competent organization of health services (Bucalo, 1993, ...