Traditional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Research Articles

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With and Without Instillation in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare but deadly infections that require early and often extensive surgical debridement. After debridement, patients frequently have substantial morbidity because of large, open wounds. Hypothesis: Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi) results in higher wound closure rates compared with traditional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) or wet to dry dressings (moist wound care dressing). Patients and Methods: A prospectively maintained Acute and Critical Care Surgery database spanning 2008-2018 was queried for patients with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier gangrene, or gas gangrene. Data were collected on patient comorbidities, operative management, and clinical outcomes. Patients were stratified by use of moist wound care dressing, traditional NPWT, or NPWTi. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), χ2, and logistic regression. Results: During the 10-year study period, patients were treated for NSTI; 173 were managed with moist wound care dressing, 150 with NPWT, and 48 with NPWTi. Patients were similar in terms of demographics, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, and smoking rates. Overall, complication rates were not substantially different, but mortality was higher in the moist wound care dressing group (16.2% vs. 10.7% NPWT vs. 2.1% NPWTi; p = 0.02). In the moist wound care dressing group, 81.5% of patients had an open wound at discharge compared with 52.7% of the NPWT group and only 14.6% of the NPWTi group (p < 0.001). On multivariable regression, NPWTi was associated with closure rates five times higher than the NPWT group (odds ratio [OR], 5.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.40-11.61; p < 0.001) after controlling for smoking status, intravenous drug use, number of operations, and involvement of the most common region of the body. Conclusions: Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation is associated with higher rates of wound closure without increasing complication rates in patients with NSTI compared with traditional NPWT or moist wound care dressing. Although prospective studies are needed, this indicates the potential to improve patient quality of life through reduced pain and outpatient home health needs.

Pooled Study-level Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Analyzing the Effect of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Irrigation vs Traditional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Diabetic Foot Outcomes

Introduction. The benefits of NPWT-T for the diabetic foot have been established. The addition of regular periodic irrigation with broad-spectrum antiseptic solution has been shown to reduce bioburden and total bacterial colonies; however, debate remains as to the clinical effect on diabetic foot outcomes. Objective. This study investigated the differences between NPWT-T and NPWT-I for treatment of the diabetic foot and the associated clinical outcomes. Methods. PubMed, Medline/Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for relevant literature published between January 1, 2002, and March 1, 2022. Keywords included “Negative Pressure Wound Therapy” AND “Instillation” OR “Irrigation.” Three studies with a total of 421 patients (NPWT-T [n = 223], NPWT-I [n = 198]) were included in the meta-analysis. Results. No significant differences were observed between NPWT-T and NPWT-I for BWC (OR, 1.049; 95% CI, 0.709-1.552; P =.810), time to wound closure (SMD, −0.039; 95% CI, −0.233-0.154; P =.691), LOS (SMD, 0.065; 95% CI, −0.128-0.259; P =.508), or AEs (OR, 1.092; 95% CI, 0.714-1.670; P =.69). Conclusion. Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that further RCTs are required to assess the role of NPWT-I in the management of DFU and DFI.

P027 CHRONIC MESH INFECTION AFTER TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS RELEASE FOR A MULTIRECURRENT COMPLEX VENTRAL HERNIA IN HIGH RISK PATIENT: CRITICAL ISSUES OF A LONG LASTING MANAGEMENT

Abstract Aim to point out the critical issues of the management of a challenging case of complex ventral hernia (CVH) in high risk patient Material and methods A 58-year-old female was referred to our Institution with a history of alcohol and smoking abuse, COPD and class I obesity. Four years before she underwent liver transplantation. In the next two years she had 2 VH repairs with polypropilene (PP) meshes. The postoperative course was complicated by a deep surgical site infection (SSI) and dehiscence. The wound resulted in a large R2 M3-L2 CWH with distorted anatomy. The patient experienced VH incarcerations and bowel obstructions. Clinical examination revealed no signs of infection and the CT scan showed partial loss of substance of the abdominal wall. Results The patient underwent posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release (PCS-TAR) and large PVDF mesh on top of a biosynthetic mesh implantation. The postoperative course was complicated after 14 days by a SSI causing a large wound dehiscence with underlying mesh exposure. The patient was readmitted and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with topical wound solution instillation was initiated. After 1 month was followed up as an out-patient to continue traditional NPWT and removal of former PP remnants. NPWT was interrupted after 6 months and no signs of infection nor VH recurrence were recorded at 1 year. Conclusions the indication to PCS-TAR for such comorbid patient should be carefully evaluated. The use of a biosyntetic mesh could be debatable. The conservative management of a chronic infection could be the first-line option in case of macroporous mesh implantations.

A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study on the effectiveness of a single‐use negative pressure wound therapy system, compared to traditional negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities

AbstractA multicenter, phase 4, randomized, comparative‐efficacy study in subjects with lower extremity wounds was carried out to compare wound closure rates, for a single‐use negative pressure wound therapy (s‐NPWT) versus traditional NPWT (t‐NPWT) systems over a 12‐week treatment period. From the initial population of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and venous leg ulcers (VLU), we analyzed a subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus and leg and foot ulcers (either DFUs or VLUs in diabetics), termed, the diabetic lower extremity ulcers (DLEU). In the DLEU group, there were 95 patients in intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and 61 patients in per protocol (PP) populations, respectively. We found a significant difference in favor of s‐NPWT over t‐NPWT in the confirmed wound closures at 12 weeks both in ITT (p &lt; 0.001) and PP populations (p = 0.017). Significantly higher wound closure rates in s‐NPWT group suggest that s‐NPWT should be preferred NPWT option for DLEU.

Ultraviolet-A Light and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy to Accelerate Wound Healing and Reduce Bacterial Proliferation.

Ultraviolet (UV)-A therapy is a simple, inexpensive, and effective modality for wound healing, with tremendous potential to improve healing and reduce clinical infections in a number of clinical settings. To date, application of UV-A relies on bulky and hard-to-dose lamps that provide inconsistent therapy, thus making it difficult to apply therapy that is appropriate for the patient. This study was designed to test the effectiveness of a novel wound therapy device that combines UV-A with traditional negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to promote wound healing. Furthermore, we tested the ability of fiberoptic UV-A delivery to inhibit bacterial proliferation. Finally, we assayed the level of DNA damage that results from UV-A as compared to established UV-C therapies. Wound healing studies were performed in a porcine model using an articulated therapy arm that allows for continued therapy administration over an extended time course. Negative-pressure wound therapy was administered alone or with UV-A fiberoptic therapy for 2 weeks. Dressings were changed twice a week, at which time wound area was assessed. Data demonstrate that UV-A with NPWT treatment of wounds results in greater healing than NPWT alone. Using the same therapy device, we demonstrate that exposure of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to fiberoptic UV-A results in decreased colony area and number of both bacterial strains. Finally, we show that UV-A induces minimal DNA damage in human fibroblasts and no more DNA damage in wound tissue as compare to intact skin. These data demonstrate that UV-A can decrease bacterial proliferation and promote wound healing when coupled with NPWT.

Pre-Clinical Assessment of Single-Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy During In Vivo Porcine Wound Healing.

Objective: Traditional negative pressure wound therapy (tNPWT) systems can be large and cumbersome, limiting patient mobility and adversely affecting quality of life. PICO™, a no canister single-use system, offers a lightweight, portable alternative to tNPWT, with improved clinical performance. The aim of this study was to determine the potential mechanism(s) of action of single-use NPWT (sNPWT) versus tNPWT.Approach: sNPWT and tNPWT were applied to an in vivo porcine excisional wound model, following product use guidelines. Macroscopic, histological, and biochemical analyses were performed at defined healing time points to assess multiple aspects of the healing response.Results: Wounds treated with single-use negative pressure displayed greater wound closure and increased reepithelialization versus those treated with traditional negative pressure. The resulting granulation tissue was more advanced with fewer neutrophils, reduced inflammatory markers, more mature collagen, and no wound filler-associated foreign body reactions. Of note, single-use negative pressure therapy failed to induce wound edge epithelial hyperproliferation, while traditional negative pressure therapy compromised periwound skin, which remained inflamed with high transepidermal water loss; features not observed following single-use treatment.Innovation: Single-use negative pressure was identified to improve multiple aspects of healing versus traditional negative pressure treatment.Conclusion: This study provides important new insight into the differing mode of action of single-use versus traditional negative pressure and may go some way to explaining the improved clinical outcomes observed with single-use negative pressure therapy.

Single-Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices: A Technologic Analysis.

The purpose of this technologic analysis was to evaluate single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) devices. Published literature regarding negative pressure wound therapy, particularly focusing on single-use or disposal devices, was reviewed. Varied features of devices currently available in the United States were drawn from use instructions published by individual manufacturers. Safety information regarding sNPWT was derived from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database. Single-use or disposable negative pressure wound therapy devices provide a safe and effective alternative to traditional negative pressure wound therapy. These devices promote healing of select open wounds and reduce complication rates in closed surgical incisions, when used in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. They may be used in any setting, but they are designed for use in home care and may be applied as a primary treatment option or following a course of traditional negative pressure wound therapy.

Mechanical Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: Real-World Effectiveness in Challenging Patient Presentations

Introduction. When used for wound management, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) delivers subatmospheric pressure at the wound site, exerting multiple beneficial effects, including microstrain, macrostrain, edema management, granulation tissue formation, drainage management, and wound stabilization. Comparative effectiveness research has demonstrated similar wound healing and adverse event outcomes between traditional NPWT (tNPWT) and mechanical NPWT (mNPWT). Therefore, considerations for patient selection for mNPWT vs tNPWT are in alignment with current recommendations, including therapeutic goals, wound-related factors, patient satisfaction, quality of life, care setting, economic-related factors, and product design. Case Reports. The 3 complex patient cases in the present report describe the routine use of mNPWT between December 18, 2020, and June 7, 2021, at a community hospital-based outpatient wound center within an academic health system, including 2 dehisced surgical incisions and 1 complicated venous leg ulcer. All patients received local standard of care, including surgical debridement, soap and water cleansing of the wound and extremity, hypochlorous acid 5-minute soak prior to dressing application, non-sting skin barrier periwound protection, smoking cessation and nutrition counseling, and chronic disease management. Case selections for mNPWT included: the need for frequent activity at work, minimal wound depth, lack of undermining, exudate, wound size, wound location allowing for the wound to fit comfortably beneath the mNPWT dressing, need for graft stabilization, protection of the site from repeated trauma, need for granulation tissue formation, and periwound inflammation. Conclusions. Mechanical NPWT is a convenient therapeutic option that appears to deliver healing outcomes comparable to those of tNPWT but with improved wound-related quality of life. These cases reveal the real-world effectiveness of mNPWT in challenging patient presentations and wounds that have stalled. The cases outline common endpoints for using advanced therapy in addition to wound closure, such as granulation tissue formation and quality of life.

A Novel Wound and Soft Tissue Flap Negative Pressure Drain System - a Pilot Study

Abstract Background: Negative-pressure wound-therapy (NPWT) has become a mainstay of treatment for high-risk surgical wounds. In closed wounds, traditional NPWT utilizes surface level sponges alone to provide negative pressure. A technique that allows for deep dead-space management, while maintaining superficial negative pressure over a closed wound, may prove beneficial inhigh-risk patients. Purpose: A novel technique and prospective case series are described which incorporate deep hemovac drain tubings into a traditional NPWT device (Deep Inside-Out Vac; DIOV). Pilot data is needed to begin evaluating the efficacy of this technique. Methods: Fourteen patients were stratified by initial indication for DIOV placement. Group 1 patients underwent wide tumor resection, while Group 2 patients underwent extensive debridement for infection. Demographic, surgical, and microbiological data were recorded. Results: Eight patients were identified in Group 1. Six were identified in Group 2. Both demonstrated 50% positive culture rates at time of drain removal. Most common organisms were coagulase negative staphylococcus species. At final follow-up, all wounds were clinically healed. Conclusions: NPWT is an established augment in post-operative wound care. The DIOV may provide added benefit in wounds at high-risk for dead-space related complications. Contamination remains unfavorable, and further research is needed to determine this device’s efficacy.

A Prospective Randomized Study: The Usefulness and Efficacy of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Lipidocolloid Polyester Mesh Compared to Traditional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Treatment of Pressure Ulcers.

To improve healing of pressure ulcer wounds, it is important to optimize the conditions of the area surrounding the wound. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) promotes wound healing, however, the removal of NPWT can cause pain or focal bleeding, delaying wound healing or causing infection. In this study, we reviewed the efficacy of the lipidocolloid non-adherent dressing (Urgotul®) as a wound contact layer. A total of 38 patients from the same facility who applied NPWT from April 2016 to October 2019 were included and divided into two groups; NPWT with the lipidocolloid non-adherent dressing (group 1, experimental group, 19 patients) and NPWT only (group 2, control group, 19 patients). The condition of the wound was examined prior to NPWT application, at one week, and again at three weeks after application. No significant differences were found between groups for general characteristics, bacterial culture or photo analysis. However, when comparing groups based on the time of examination, there was a significant reduction of the wound size in group 1 (p = 0.001) but not in group 2 (p = 0.082). Therefore, the current study finds that using the lipidocolloid non-adherent dressing as a wound contact layer in NPWT stimulates healing by shrinking the size of the pressure ulcer wound.

PMD53 COMPARISON OF WOUND CLOSURE IN SURGICAL WOUNDS BETWEEN SINGLE-USE NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY AND TRADITIONAL NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY: A REAL WORLD ANALYSIS

Evidence for single-use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (sNPWT) in managing surgical incisions is demonstrated across surgical indications. However, there is limited evidence of surgical wounds using large real world database. The aim of this study was to examine wound closure in sNPWT and tNPWT in surgical wounds patients from a real-world evidence perspective This retrospective cohort study was conducted by identifying surgical wounds from an outpatient wound clinic EMR from 2014 to 2018. The treatment period began with the first application of NPWT and continued until the LEU closed or the patient was lost to follow-up. Patients were excluded if they received both types of NPWT or had missing wound clinical information. Patients were matched on demographic characteristics, comorbidities and baseline wound surface area, wound depth, wound age using propensity score matching. Wound closure was reported descriptively and estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Number of wound closed and surface area was reported at monthly interval. One-to-one propensity score matching method matched 490 sNPWT to tNPWT patients with baseline surface area of 8.10 cm2 and 8.56 cm2, respectively. Descriptive analysis estimated that sNPWT improved wound closure (43.47% vs 39.39%; p-value=0.1946) while regression analysis estimated sNPWT wounds were 37% more likely to close (OR=1.37; 95% CI=1.01-1.87; p-value=0.0445). In addition, sNPWT patients had higher number of wound closed and higher surface area reduction at monthly follow-up period. Before matching, there were 568 sNPWT and 1,787 tNPWT patients with mean initial surface area of 7.36 cm2 and 17.76 cm2, respectively and descriptive analysis estimated that sNPWT had statistically significant higher wound closure rate (44.37% vs 37.88%; p-value=0.0059). Single-use Negative pressure wound therapy is associated with significantly higher wound closure rate compared to traditional negative pressure wound therapy in surgical wounds.

A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of a single-use negative pressure wound therapy system, compared to traditional negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of chronic ulcers of the lower extremities.

Multicenter, phase‐4, randomized, comparative‐efficacy study in patients with VLUs or DFUs comparing for noninferiority the percentage change in target ulcer dimensions (area, depth, and volume) a single‐use negative pressure wound therapy (s‐NPWT) system versus traditional NPWT (t‐NPWT) over a 12‐week treatment period or up to confirmed healing. Baseline values were taken at the randomization visit. Randomized by wound type and size, 164 patients with non‐infected DFUs and VLUs were included. The ITT population was composed of 161 patients (101 with VLUs, 60 with DFUs) and 115 patients completed follow‐up (64 in the s‐NPWT group and 51 in the t‐NPWT group) (PP population). The average age for all patients was 61.5 years, 36.6% were women, and treatment groups were statistically similar at baseline. Primary endpoint analyses on wound area reduction demonstrated statistically significant reduction in favor of s‐NPWT (p = 0.003) for the PP population and for the ITT population (p < 0.001). Changes in wound depth (p = 0.018) and volume (p = 0.013) were also better with s‐NPWT. Faster wound closure was observed with s‐NPWT (Cox Proportional Hazards ratio (0.493 (0.273, 0.891); p = 0.019) in the ITT population. Wound closure occurred in 45% of patients in the s‐NPWT group vs. 22.2% of patients in the t‐NPWT group (p = 0.002). Median estimate of the time to wound closure was 77 days for s‐NPWT. No estimate could be provided for t‐NPWT due to the low number of patients achieving wound closure. Device‐related AEs were more frequent in the t‐NPWT group (41 AEs from 29 patients) than in the s‐NPWT group (16 AEs from 12 patients). The s‐NPWT system met noninferiority and achieved statistical superiority vs. t‐NPWT in terms of wound progression toward healing over the treatment period. When NPWT is being considered for the management of challenging VLUs and DFUs, s‐NPWT should be considered a first choice over other types of NPWT.

Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation: effects on healing of category 4 pressure ulcers

Aim: The use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is well established in the treatment of chronic wounds. NPWT with instillation (NPWTi) combines traditional NPWT with the application of a topical irrigation solution (in this case octenidine based octenilin® wound irrigation solution) within the wound bed. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of NPWTi on pressure ulcers (PUs).

Miniaturized Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites

Background Multiple therapeutic options exist for the treatment of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites, but there is no clear consensus among surgeons about the best option. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has rapidly gained in popularity since its invention. Recently, several miniaturized, single-patient NPWT (SP-NPWT) devices have become available. Compared with traditional NPWT devices, SP-NPWT devices are associated with equal wound healing capability and reliability, but offer several advantages. We present a series of 10 consecutive patients whose STSG donor sites were treated with a commercially available SP-NPWT device. Methods We performed a retrospective review for 10 consecutive patients who underwent STSG procedures and were treated with SP-NPWT devices. Results From 2015 to 2017, 10 consecutive patients underwent oncologic reconstruction using STSG and had their donor sites treated with SP-NPWT devices. The SP-NPWT dressing had been left in place for 2 weeks after surgery. The average donor site area measured 80 cm 2 (range: 76–106 cm 2 ). In all 10 patients, the donor sites healed uneventfully and with no complications. Conclusion Off-the-shelf, miniaturized, SP-NPWT systems appear to be at least as effective as traditional dressings for STSG donor sites and require no maintenance (skilled nursing or dressing changes). Compared with larger and less portable standard NPWT devices, SP-NPWT dressing systems provide a potential cost benefit as well as enhanced convenience and portability.

A Retrospective, Cost-minimization Analysis of Disposable and Traditional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Medicare Paid Claims

Traditional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems are considered durable. The pump is designed for use by numerous patients over a period of several years. Recently developed smaller, disposable devices are designed for single-patient use. A retrospective analysis of 2012-2014 national Medicare claims data was used to examine payments associated with the use of traditional and disposable NPWT systems. Data extracted included NPWT episodes from the Limited Data Set Standard Analytic Files including the 5% sample for traditional NPWT and 100% sample for disposable NPWT. NPWT episodes were identified using claim service dates and billing codes. Mean costs per episode were compared and analyzed using chi-squared tests for comparisons between patients who received traditional and those who used disposable NPWT. For continuous variables, statistical significance was assessed using Mann-Whitney U tests. The data included traditional (n = 2938; mean age 66.6 years) and disposable (n = 3522; mean age 67.6 years) episodes for the 2 NPWT groups. Wound types differed for NPWT groups (P <.0001) and included surgical (1134 [39%] versus 764 [22%]), generic open (850 [29%] versus 342 [10%]), skin ulcers (561 [19%] versus 1301 [37%]), diabetic ulcers (240 [8%] versus 342 [10%]), and circulatory system wounds (105 [4%] versus 563 [16%]). Average payment amounts were $4650 ± $2782 for traditional and $1532 ± $1767 per disposable NPWT episode (P <.0001). Payment differences were not affected by wound or comorbidity characteristics. Using the 2016 rates, average payments were $3501 for traditional and $1564 for disposable NPWT. Considering the rate of NPWT use in the United States and the results of this study suggesting substantial potential cost savings, additional analyses and cost-effectiveness studies are warranted.

Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi): Current status, recommendations and perspectives in the context of modern wound therapy.

Introduction of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) revolutionized the conception of wound healing. Currently, there are an increased number of studies confirmed the high efficiency of this therapy in many clinical scenarios. Moreover, some innovations have been introduced in recent years to improve the management of complex and chronic wound.NPWT with instillation (NPWTi) combines traditional NPWT with application of topical irrigation solutions within bed of the wound. Bioburden reduction, decrease time to wound closure, promotion in granulation tissue formation, fewer operative visits have been revealed using NPWTi compared to standard NPWT.However, there are still some questioned aspect of the NPWTi and thus its superiority over standard NPWT has not been fully indicated. Moreover, based on current studies no firm conclusions have been taken concerning the type of instilled solution preferably used, range of dwell- time phase, range of negative pressure and others.The main goal of the publication is to overview and summarize the current state of art concerning NPWTi. Moreover, mechanisms of action, review of the most common used instilled solution are discussed and clinical evidence of NPWTi are described.

Single-use negative pressure wound therapy for the treatment of chronic lower leg wounds.

Lower extremity ulcers are caused by multiple disease processes and contribute to a high level of patient morbidity and health-care spending in the US. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used extensively for wound bed preparation. Our aim is to assess the efficacy of an affordable, low-profile single-use NPWT (single-use NPWT) on chronic lower extremity wounds that would usually be deemed too small or superficial for traditional NPWT. A prospective pilot study was undertaken in which chronic lower extremity wounds were treated with single-use NPWT. Study visits were biweekly for primary contact dressing change, with the negative pressure unit being changed weekly. Biweekly assessments were made of wound appearance, surface area, depth, exudate amount, peri-wound skin integrity, and signs of clinical infection. Digital photography was performed at each visit. Patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) were treated with a 3-layer wrap. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) were treated with off-loading shoes. The study recruited 12 patients. There were 13 wounds in total; two DFUs, two traumatic/postoperative/pressure ulcers, and nine VLUs. DFUs decreased in size on average 62%, VLUs by 32%, and traumatic/postoperative/pressure wounds by 74%. The wound appearance became more favourable and the wound depth decreased with the use of single-use NPWT. Single-use NPWT is a suitable therapy for chronic lower extremity wounds. Single-use NPWT led to a decrease in wound size and depth, an increased amount of granulation tissue, and a high level of patient satisfaction, with a low complication rate. This study was funded by Smith & Nephew, Hull, UK. JC Lantis is a paid consultant for KCI, Smith & Nephew, Healthpoint and Macrocure. C Gendics is a paid consultant for Macrocure and ManukaMed.

The HeartShield device reduces the risk for right ventricular damage in patients with deep sternal wound infection.

Right ventricular rupture, resulting in serious bleeding, is a life-threatening complication associated with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in cardiac surgery. The use of a rigid barrier between the heart and the sharp sternal edges has been successfully tested on pigs. In the present article, we demonstrate increased safety in NPWT through the use of the HeartShield device. Six patients were treated with a specially designed device in combination with NPWT. The device consists of a horizontally placed disk covered in foam. The back of the T-shaped device sticks up between the sternal edges and up above skin level. This part of the device is also covered in foam. Drainage is performed through two holes at the top of the device. The device and foam are changed every second to third day, and -120 mm Hg of continuous therapy is used. Six patients were treated with traditional NPWT, serving as control group. No signs of calluslike formation were seen on the right ventricle in the group treated with the HeartShield device. In the conventional NPWT control group, all six patients had calluslike formation (>1 × 2 cm2) on the anterior part of the right ventricle. All patients in the HeartShield group had grade 1 epicardial petechial bleeding (<0.5 cm2) on the right ventricle. In the control group, one patient had grade 1 (<0.5 cm2), three patients had grade 2 (0.5-2.0 cm2), and two patients had grade 3 (>2.0 cm2) epicardial petechial bleeding on the right ventricle. No major bleeding or mortality was observed in either group during the course of the study. The use of the HeartShield device significantly minimizes the contact between the right ventricle and the sternal edges, thereby decreasing the risk for life-threatening complications due to bleeding.

Evaluation of an ultra‐lightweight, single‐patient‐use negative pressure wound therapy system over dermal regeneration template and skin grafts

As the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) over skin grafts has increased, traditional methods of NPWT system reimbursement and application are increasingly being challenged. A simplified method of accessing and operating NPWT in the outpatient setting is needed, particularly in cases where immediate outpatient use of NPWT is optimal. We evaluated use of a new ultra-lightweight, off-the-shelf, disposable, single-patient-use NPWT system (SP-NPWT; V.A.C.Via™ Therapy, KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX) over dermal regeneration template (DRT) and/or skin grafts. SP-NPWT was initiated over a DRT and/or skin graft in 33 patients with 41 graft procedures. Endpoints were recorded and compared to a historical control group of 25 patients with 28 grafts bolstered with traditional rental NPWT (V.A.C.® Therapy, KCI USA, Inc.). Average length of inpatient hospital stay was 0·0 days for the SP-NPWT group and 6·0 days for the control group (P < 0·0001). The average duration of SP-NPWT post-DRT or skin graft was 5·6 days for the SP-NPWT group and 7·0 days for the control (P < 0·0001). Preliminary data suggest that, compared to traditional NPWT, off-the-shelf SP-NPWT may provide a quicker, seamless transition to home, resulting in decreased hospital stay and potential cost savings.