Negative pressure therapy: theory and practice

Abstract

NPT(negative pressure therapy)which also can be called VAC(vacuum-assisted closure)is a treatment which can promote wound healing.It can not only be used to one stage treatment of chronic and complex wounds but also can assist to temporary close the wound and to the preparatory work of pre-operation wound area such as dermatoplasty. Although the physiological basis of VAC has been not fully expounded, the clinical effects have been proved.We analysed the relevant researches that based on randomized clinical trial, VAC and topical negative pressure which are chosen from Pubmed-medline and assessed the scientific data which derived from animal experiment, randomized clinical trial and observing in clinical application. According to the data, NPT has remarkable effects in inducing wound healing especially in early stage of wound healing. Besides, NPT also has positive effect in anti-infective therapy. Experimental data have presented that VAC has positive effect in promoting wound healing. But the functional mechanism of it has not been clarified because of evidence-based medicine data could not explain the positive effects of clinical treatment. Although there still need further random and blind method to explain its effects, we deem that reasonable using VAC especially using by prectised surgeon is a commendable treatment to promoting wound healing.