Negative Pressure Vacuum Wound Therapy
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by
Ree Webster
What Is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy?
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a relatively new treatment developed to help wounds heal faster by using suction to removing excess fluid and bacteria. It is used to promote healing in acute or chronic wounds by applying controlled suction to the wound area. Also known as vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), this therapy is widely used for injuries that are difficult to heal, including surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and traumatic injuries. By maintaining a sealed environment, NPWT enhances tissue regeneration, reduces swelling, and removes excess fluid or infectious material from the wound.
NPWT was first introduced in the early 1990s by Dr. Louis C. Argenta and Dr. Michael J. Morykwas at Wake Forest University. Their groundbreaking research demonstrated the effectiveness of negative pressure in accelerating wound healing. The therapy gained FDA approval for medical use in 1995 and has since become a standard treatment for wound care. Today, millions of patients worldwide benefit from NPWT annually, making it a cornerstone of modern wound management.
How Does Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Work?
Negative pressure wound therapy can be applied to injured soft tissues many different areas of your body. It involves placing a foam or gauze dressing over the wound, which is sealed with a transparent adhesive film. A vacuum pump is then used to create the negative pressure, which in turn draws out excess fluid and simultaneously improves blood flow to the wound site.
This suction technique also prevents harmful contaminates entering the wound from your surrounds; effectively creating an ideal environment for to heal and recovery. The clean, warm and moist environment created by the procedure encourages healthy new tissue to grow. The technique also helps compress the wound to make it smaller, and removing the excess liquid leads to less endema, or swelling.
NPWT can be performed in hospitals, wound care clinics, or at home with portable devices, depending on the severity of the wound. Following the initial suction stage of the treatment, nurses/medical staff will change dressings every 48-72 hours under sterile conditions to ensure a tight seal remains around your wound.
Some patients may require extended hospital stay during this period until the wound is sufficiently healed. Others maybe approved to undergo this treatment at home, however you’ll need to employ the assistance of a health care professional to visit you and attend to the dressings, alternatively you can simply visit the clinic when needed, as opposed to staying for 24/7 hour care.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Work Success Rate
NPWT provide surgeons with an accurate way to achieve the pressure required. Devices maybe configured for use with one patient, or be used repeatedly again for multiple new patients. And most notably, the results are often remarkable.
Studies show that NPWT commonly helps improve healing times, can reduce the rate of infection, and produce better overall outcomes compared with traditional healing methods. The estimated success rate of the procedure is reported to be an impressive 80%, and thus, it has become a highly popular treatment option that has already benefited millions globally each year.
Effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Procedure
Whilst there are a lot more intricacies to the procedure, the basic step-by-step process the surgeon undergoes to carry out the surgery includes:
Although the procedure is more complicated in practice, the basic step-by-step overview of NPWT follows these steps:
- Clean and dry your wound, remove any dead/infected tissue
- Place foam pad over the wound, cover with a film that lets fluid pass through
- Create airtight seal with tape
- Place suction tube to drain fluid
- Utilize special pump to apply negative pressure
- Some physcians may also add a saline solution or use antibiotics
When To Undergo Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is recommended for individuals with wounds that are slow to heal or at high risk of infection. This typically includes acute wounds such as surgical incisions, traumatic injuries, and burns, as well as chronic wounds like pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous leg ulcers. Patients who require enhanced healing in areas with compromised blood flow or excessive fluid build-up may also benefit.
The best candidates for NPWT are those whose wounds are clean and free from active infections that cannot be managed. It is particularly effective for wounds with significant tissue loss, exposed bones or tendons, or where suturing is not possible. However, NPWT is generally unsuitable for patients with untreated infections, necrotic tissue, or certain bleeding disorders. Your healthcare provider will assess the wound and overall health to determine if NPWT is the appropriate treatment.
Negative pressure wound therapy maybe carried for a number of different reasons. The most situations in which the therapy is administered include:
To treat difficult to heal wounds
To treat a complex wound
To aid wounds that are not healing with traditional treatment
Acute wounds that can’t be closed due to reasons such as infection
Treatment of long term/chronic wounds
To reduce fluid buildup to assist wound healing]'[[[][]
Benefits of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy offers numerous benefits for wound healing. This innovative approach has transformed the treatment of complex wounds, accelerating recovery and improving outcomes. Key benefits include:
- Enhanced Healing: NPWT promotes blood flow to the wound, fostering tissue regeneration and faster healing.
- Reduced Infection Risk: By removing excess fluid and harmful bacteria, it helps prevent infections.
- Improved Wound Closure: The suction effect draws wound edges together, reducing the healing time.
- Minimized Swelling (endema): It decreases edema, creating a more favorable environment for recovery.
- Pain Reduction: Patients often experience less pain compared to traditional wound care methods.
- More Convenience: Portable devices enable home treatment, reducing hospital stays.
When Not To Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy?
On the other hand, there are instances where NPWT may not be ideal; either to treat certain wounds, or for certain individuals dealing with other medical conditions.
These cases when NPWT is not advisable include:
* If you have cancer
* If tissues are dead
* If organs or blood vessels are visible and/or unprotected
* If there are abnormal connections between body parts
Risks and Side Effects of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Although the treatment is effective and typically very safe, there are some risks that can occur on rare occasion.
- Bleeding.
- Pain.
- Infection.
- Foam sticking to the wound.
- Allergic reaction to materials in contact with the wound.
- Damage to the wound.
- Device failure from a low battery, blocked tube or incorrect setup.
Recovery and Outlook
The speed of your recovery depends on the kind of wound you have, as well as the size. You may be surprised at how quickly negative pressure wound therapy helps your wound heal. The system creates an ideal environment for wound healing.
Follow your provider’s instructions for taking care of yourself.
* Avoid taking baths. Take sponge baths instead.
* Take medicine for pain if you need it and if your provider approves it.
* Take antibiotics if your provider prescribed them for you.
Ask your provider how soon after treatment you can return to normal activities.
Care And Follow Up Advice
For those using a negative pressure wound therapy device at home, follow up care is generally successful and rarely encounters serious problems, however, you should contact your health provider if you experience any of the following signs or symptoms:
Your wound starts to bleed.
You have a fever or other signs of an infection.
The seal around your wound is coming loose.
The machine sounds different than it usually does.
The machine’s battery is low.
The tube has a blockage.
The machine stops running by itself.
After treatment, you’ll need follow-up appointments with your provider as they’ll need to make sure you’re healing well and are free of infection. The provider will advise on the preferred time frame between follow up sessions, however you’ll find appointments typically arranged 14 days after.
