title: Combined negative pressure wound therapy and ultrasonic MIST therapy for open surgical wounds: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical wounds are at increased risk of infection when left open to heal through secondary intention; they increase length of hospital stay, hospital costs, readmission rates, and patient morbidity. New technologies and methods of treating acute and chronic wounds are emerging. Two recent developments for the treatment of open wounds are noncontact low-frequency ultrasound (NCLFU) treatment and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This case series reports findings from 4 hospitalized patients with complex conditions who underwent colorectal surgery resulting in open abdominal wounds. The wounds were treated with NCLFU in combination with NPWT. Data were collected via retrospective review of medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After concurrent treatment with NPWT (range, 13-18 days) and NCLFU (range, 5-9 treatments), wound areas in these 4 cases were reduced by 4.5% to 37% and wound volume decreased by 17% to 62%. Granulation tissue increased in the open tissue areas in all patients. In addition, 3 of the cases received a mesh graft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination treatment with NPWT and NCLFU therapy with or without sharp debridement enhanced wound healing in the open abdominal wounds of these 4 patients.
authors.affiliation: Amy M. Jeffers, MS, RN, CWCN-AP, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Pamela M. Maxson, PhD, RN, CWCN, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Susan L. Thompson, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CWCN, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Heather E. McCormack, PT, DSc, CWS, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Robert R. Cima, MD, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jeffers
authors.forename: Pamela M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Maxson
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Cima
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*