The Patients Guide to Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Long Term Care
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If you suffer from a chronic wound, such as a diabetic ulcer or pressure ulcer, your practitioner might recommend treating it with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). This guide explains what negative pressure wound therapy is and how it can help. 

What is negative pressure wound therapy?

NPWT is a medical treatment utilizing vacuum-like pumps to promote the healing of severe and chronic wounds. This process helps remove fluid and bacteria, allowing the wound edges to close while encouraging healthy tissue growth.

Over recent decades, NPWT has become a widely used wound management practice in the United States. These systems have proven to reduce the healing times of certain wound types. 

Negative pressure wound therapy can effectively treat chronic wounds, sub-acute and acute wounds, traumatic wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, flaps and grafts, and second- and third-degree burn wounds.

The process begins by cleaning the wound then dressing the site using a specialty foam or gauze then covering with an adhesive film. Then a port with a tube is applied to the top of the film and attached to the wound pump. Next, you attach a small, lightweight pump to the dressings that, when activated, will conform the dressing to the wound. 
 

How does negative pressure wound therapy work?

As with any other wound treatment, you will need to change your dressings periodically to ensure the wound is kept clean. Your practitioner will determine the best schedule, but dressings are typically changed every  three days. 
 

Why do it?

As with any recovery from a severe injury, NPWT can be a slow process. The benefits of negative pressure wound therapy are clear:

  • Keeps your wound clean
  • Can result in an earlier hospital discharge
  • Lowers the cost of treatment 
  • Speeds up the healing process
  • Is portable to allow you to enjoy daily activity more easily
  • Allows you to regain a better health-related quality of life

How to make the most of your wound care treatment

If you are undergoing treatment for a severe wound, you can follow a few additional best practices to improve your recovery.

  • Diet — Good nutrition can help improve healing. Stock up on healthy foods, including:
    • Fruits 
    • Veggies and greens
    • Lean proteins such as fish, chicken, and turkey
    • Dairy and nuts
    • Vitamin A, C, E and Zinc supplements
  • Warning signs — If you notice any of the following, contact your practitioner immediately:
    • Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Redness or warmth at wound site
    • Wound odor change
    • Headache, lightheadedness, or dizziness
    • Redness, swelling or warmth around the wound

Conclusion

Negative pressure wound therapy may be an option if you are struggling to recover from a serious wound. Like any medical procedure, the recovery can be difficult and requires patience and care. Follow the recommendations of your practitioner or clinical team, and you will set yourself up for success and a higher health-related quality of life down the road. Remember, negative pressure wound therapy is not appropriate for all types of wounds. If you are unsure if this treatment is right for you, we recommend discussing your options with your practitioner.  

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6 Facts About Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) draws out fluid and bacteria from a chronic wound to help it heal. Your practitioner might recommend NPWT if you have a wound that either has not healed or has worsened over several weeks.

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