title: Negative pressure wound therapy using a portable single-use device for free skin grafts on the distal extremity in seven dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retrospective study to describe clinical experience with a portable single-use negative pressure wound therapy device after application of full-thickness meshed skin grafts to wounds on the distal extremities of seven dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven dogs were treated with portable NPWT after receiving skin grafts; six as the result of tumour resection and one for traumatic injury. Medical records were reviewed and data recorded on patient signalment, cause and location of wound, surgical technique, application and maintenance of portable NPWT, graft survival and outcome, and complications encountered with the system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NPWT was provided for between 4 and 7 days. Five patients were discharged from hospital during the treatment period. Application and maintenance of the portable device was technically easy and no major complications were encountered. Minor complications consisted of fluid accumulation in the evacuation tubing. All dogs achieved 100% graft survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application and maintenance of the portable device was technically straightforward. All dogs receiving portable NPWT after transfer of a free skin graft to the distal extremity had a successful outcome.
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia. amiller@sashvets.com.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Miller
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia.
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Cashmore
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Marchevsky
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Havlicek
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia.
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Brown
authors: Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Level 1, 1 Richardson Place, North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia.
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Fearnside
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008499:Medical Records; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: dogs; negative pressure wound therapy; reconstructive surgery; skin graft; soft tissue sarcoma; wound healing