title: Novel foam dressing using negative pressure wound therapy with instillation to remove thick exudate.
abstract: We describe our experience with a novel foam dressing architecture in tandem with negative pressure wound therapy and instillation (NPWTi-d) for removing viscous wound exudate and infectious materials. A retrospective review was conducted of the outcomes of 21 patients who received NPWTi-d using a reticulated open cell foam instillation dressing with through holes (ROCF-CC) designed to facilitate the removal of thick wound exudate and infectious materials. NPWTi-d with ROCF-CC was used to treat large complex chronic wounds with viscous wound exudate that contained substantial areas of devitalised tissue. Debridement was performed as appropriate or available. NPWTi-d with ROCF-CC assisted in loosening, solubilising and detaching viscous exudate, dry fibrin, wet slough and other infectious materials. Percent surface area of black non-viable tissue and yellow fibrinous slough was reduced to ≤ 10% in 18/21 (85·7%) and 12/21 (57·1%) wounds, respectively, after an average of 1-3 applications (3-9 days) of NPWTi-d with ROCF-CC. Preliminary evidence suggests that adjunctive use of NPWTi-d with ROCF-CC may help clean large, complex wounds when complete surgical debridement is not possible or appropriate and/or when areas of slough and non-viable tissue remain present on the wound surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wound Healing, Burns Unit Plastic Surgery, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Téot
authors.affiliation: Department of Wound Healing, Burns Unit Plastic Surgery, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boissiere
authors.affiliation: Department of Wound Healing, Burns Unit Plastic Surgery, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sergiu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fluieraru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Devitalised tissue; Fibrinous tissue; Instillation; Negative pressure wound therapy; Wound cleansing