The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Professor Malin Malmsjö, MD, PhD. Photo.

Malin Malmsjö

Professor

Professor Malin Malmsjö, MD, PhD. Photo.

Mechanical effects of negative pressure wound therapy on abdominal wounds - effects of different pressures and wound fillers

Author

  • Christian Torbrand
  • Erik Anesäter
  • Ola Borgquist
  • Malin Malmsjö

Summary, in English

The mechanical deformation of the wound edge resulting from negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) at the standard setting of around -120mmHg has positive effects in promoting wound healing. However, it may cause pain to the patient during treatment. It is therefore important to study the mechanical effects of the wound edges using lower pressure and different wound fillers. Abdominal wounds were created on eight pigs. The wounds were sealed for NPWT using foam or gauze. Negative pressures between -20 and -160mmHg were applied, and the decrease in wound diameter and the force with which the edges of the wound were drawn together (wound edge force) were measured. Increasing levels of negative pressure resulted in a gradual decrease in wound diameter and increase in wound edge force and reached a maximum at -120mmHg, which is the pressure commonly used in clinical practice. Both the decrease in wound diameter and the increase in wound edge force was greater with foam than with gauze. A pressure of -80mmHg has only 15% less effect than -120mmHg, while a lower pressure (-40 mmHg) diminished the effects on diameter and force markedly. The NPWT-induced decrease in wound diameter and increase in wound edge force are greater at higher levels of negative pressure and when using foam than when using gauze as a wound filler. It may be possible to tailor the type of wound filler and level of negative pressure to obtain the best balance between wound healing and patient comfort.

Department/s

  • Ophthalmology, Lund
  • Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
  • Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
  • NPWT technology
  • Clinical and experimental lung transplantation

Publishing year

2018

Language

English

Pages

24-28

Publication/Series

International Wound Journal

Volume

15

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Surgery

Keywords

  • Abdominal wounds
  • Experimental surgery
  • Pain
  • Vacuum-assisted closure
  • Wound healing

Status

Published

Research group

  • Ophthalmology Imaging Research Group
  • NPWT technology
  • Clinical and experimental lung transplantation

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1742-4801