title: Low-cost Negative-pressure Wound Therapy Using Wall Vacuum: A 15 Dollars by Day Alternative.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been marketed for about 20 years and remains popular. The only real obstacle to NPWT is the cost; therefore, we designed an inexpensive NPWT connected to a wall vacuum. Here, we report the feasibility and safety of this product, which we call PROVACUUM (Z-Biotech, Saint-Avertin, France).
  
  
  METHODS
  As a first step, the constraints imposed on the manufacturer were equipment quality similar to that of commercial NPWT systems, with an average treatment cost of $15/d. Then, we conducted a prospective study of patients with indications for NPWT from September 2013 to January 2015. Data collected included ease of use, quality of materials, and occurrence of complications during treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 23 patients with a mean age of 50.8 years. The average duration of treatment was 8.5 days (range, 3-21 days). The dressings were changed every 3.3 days (range, 2-4 days). Two hematomas occurred that required surgical revision and the transfusion of 2 units after large debridement of pressure ulcer. No other adverse events or infections occurred. The surgeons found that our device was similar to commercial NPWT devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed an inexpensive NPWT that costs an average of $15/d. Our process is not intended to replace portable or stand-alone devices with batteries, but rather offers a less expensive alternative for hospitalized patients and makes NPWT accessible to the most precarious countries and institutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eburdery
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Grolleau
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rangueil University Hospital, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chavoin