title: Guidelines for managing pressure ulcers with negative pressure wound therapy.
abstract: Pressure ulcers are a serious health issue, leading to clinical, financial, and emotional challenges. Numerous treatment modalities are available to promote wound healing, yet clinicians may be unsure how to incorporate these treatment options into an overall plan of care for the patient with a pressure ulcer. A consensus panel of experienced wound care clinicians convened in July 2004 to review the mechanisms of action and research basis for one such treatment modality: negative pressure wound therapy. After answering key questions about this modality, they developed an algorithm to assist the clinician in making decisions about using negative pressure wound therapy appropriately in patients with Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Subhas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baharestani
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baranoski
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mendez-Eastman
authors.forename: Jeffery A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Niezgoda
authors.forename: Matthew Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Pompeo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013396:Suction; D014945:Wound Healing