Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open (Aug 2021)

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy as a Salvage Procedure in Venous Congestion of Microsurgical Procedures

  • Jorge I. Quintero, MD,
  • Laura L. Cárdenas, MD,
  • Adriana C. Achury, MD,
  • Daniela Vega-Hoyos, MD,
  • Julio Bermúdez, MD, MSc, PhD,
  • FSFB Hand and Microsurgery Research Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003725
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 8
p. e3725

Abstract

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Summary:. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is widely used in skin defects, active infection, and surgical reconstruction; lately, it is being used after skin graft to improve the adhesion on the receptor area. During the last decade, another indication has been identified: the use of NPTW to avoid complications after free flaps such as venous congestion and the risk of necrosis. NPWT can be used in the initial complication of a free flap, and the venous congestions can be treated with this technique, with very good outcomes. NPWT can be established as a part of a postoperative protocol in microsurgical procedures to avoid major complications.