Negative pressure wound therapy with off-the-shelf components.
BACKGROUND
The KCI Wound VAC system (Kinetic Concepts, Inc, San Antonio, TX) for providing negative-pressure therapy for wounds is expensive and may not be available for patients without insurance. We have examined the feasibility of using off-the-shelf components to provide comparable negative pressure therapy at less cost.


METHODS
Adhesive iodine-impregnated drape, a flat Jackson-Pratt drain (Cardinal Health, McGaw Park, IL), and foam prep sponges stapled together are used to assemble a dressing connected to wall suction (negative 75-100 mm Hg) to create negative pressure wound therapy that is relatively inexpensive (<60 US dollars component cost).


RESULTS
We have used this system in more than 40 cases with results that seem comparable to the commercial system and have not seen bleeding or other complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Off-the-shelf components can be safely employed to provide effective negative pressure therapy for wounds and skin grafts.
Bui
Trung D
TD
VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Department of Vascular Surgery, Long Beach, CA, USA. buitd@uci.edu
Huerta
Sergio
S
Gordon
Ian L
IL
D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011312:Pressure; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing