“Low Cost” Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Acute and Chronic Wounds: A Case Series

Abstract

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an alternative to standard treatment of acute wounds (such as traumatic or postoperative wounds) but also in that of chronic wounds (such as ulcers or stage 3 and 4 pressure ulcers). With cellular, extracellular effects and bacterial clearance, it leads to the rapid formation of healthy budding granulation tissue, which provides wound bed for directed healing or secondary coverage by skin graft or flap. However, the exorbitant cost of VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) devices for our limited resources health facilities and their unavailability led us to opt for a “low cost” solution using wall suction and disposable materials readily available in all surgical departments. We present the technique used in our department and its results through a series of 3 cases with both acute and chronic lesions evolving in septic environment and where NPWT enabled us to ensure a genuine care protocol until healing while reducing the cost of therapy, the number of dressings and the length of hospital stay.

Keywords

• acute wound
• chronic wound
• healing
• negative pressure wound therapy
• vacuum-assisted closure