[Effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of the negative pressure wound therapy on the treatment of chronic wounds: a systematic review].
Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used to promote wound healing by using suction to drain excess fluid from wounds. A systematic literature review was undertaken to assess the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of NPWT for the treatment of chronic wounds. Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL and the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Trials Register were searched. A total of 9 randomized controlled trials (n=568) comparing NPWT with conventional wound therapy and four economic evaluations identified through NHS EED database were included. Five trials showed significant differences in favour of NPWT in primary outcome measures; however, most studies had small sample sizes and low scientific validity. Complications and adverse effects of NPWT are scarce compared to those of conventional treatment. There is no conclusive scientific evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of NPWT in the treatment of chronic wounds and therefore its widespread use is not justified.
Trujillo-Martín
María
M
Fundación Canaria de Investigación y Salud (FUNCIS), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España. mar.trujillomartin@sescs.es
García-Pérez
Lidia
L
Serrano-Aguilar
Pedro
P
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018401:Sample Size; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing