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Case Series/Study
Offering advanced portable negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) assists with timely discharges in today’s health care setting. This case series of 6 patients highlights the ability to transition patients home safely with a portable, small, light (less than 108grams) single use negative pressure wound therapy* (sNPWT) device. This device is canister free, battery operated, provides 80mmHg continuously and is indicated for both closed incisions and open wounds. A recent randomized controlled trial comparing sNPWT versus traditional NPWT with patients who had either diabetic foot ulcers or venous leg ulcers found sNPWT to be superior1. This case series of 6 patients demonstrates application of sNPWT to other complex wound etiologies which had low-to-moderate wound exudate.
Methods:
sNPWT was applied to six different patients with wound etiologies including: a skin graft, surgical dehisced incision, lower leg wound, pilonidal sinus, and two cases of rotational flap incisions. Both the lower leg and pilonidal sinus wounds had depth thus requiring a wound filler. Wound fillers included a nanocrystalline silver dressing** and/or a black foam filler.
Results:
In all instances closure was obtained in a timely manner with no complications and the patients reported satisfaction with the quiet, lightweight device. The unit maintained a seal as demonstrated by a “green light” at all times. Dressing remained in place for seven days on the closed surgical incisions and for the open wound types the dressing change varied from two to three times per week, depending on wound filler recommended changes and wound exudate levels. In one instance the patient had moderate dementia and yet maintained a secure dressing and optimum settings on the portable unit.
Discussion:
This small, easy to carry device, offers patients NPWT in a simple format that supports mobilization, minimal risk for falls and does not require electricity for charging.
Trademarked Items: *PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System
**ACTICOAT FLEX 3 Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing
References: 1. Kirsner R, Dove C, Reyzelman A, Vayser D, Jaimes H. 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.Wound Repair Regen. 2019; 27(5):519–529.