title: [Role of negative pressure therapy in the treatment of chronic wounds].
abstract: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is one of the supportive options for chronic wound treatment. The level of negative pressure is between 40 and 125 mm Hg below ambient. Good results in increasing angiogenesis, improvement of blood flow in wounds, edema reduction, regulation of moist environment, granulation tissue stimulation and wound retraction have been proved. In addition, bacterial burden in the wound and the amount of harmful products (exotoxins, endotoxins, cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases) are also significantly reduced. Chronic wound healing time is accelerated in comparison with other conservative treatments. The NPWT can be applied in either inpatient or outpatient settings.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Department of Surgery, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. dhuljev@kbsd.hr
authors.forename: Dubravko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huljev
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajić
authors.forename: Tugomir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gverić
authors.forename: Nada Kecelj
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Leskovec
authors.forename: Ciril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Triller
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing