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Negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation: international consensus guidelines
Paul J Kim1, Christopher E Attinger, John S Steinberg
1Washington, D.C.; Heidelberg and Berlin, Germany; Dallas, Texas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.; Vancouver, Wash.; Gainesville, Fla. From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital; the Orthopedic and Trauma Clinic, Heidelberg University; Department of Trauma Senior Surgery and Orthopedics, Reconstructive, Septic, and Hand Surgery, Military Hospital Berlin; the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern; the Division of General Surgery, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center; the Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; the Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago; the Department of Surgery, Columbia University; the Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Southwest Washington Medical Center; and the Department of Wound Research, University of Florida.
Background:
Negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation is increasingly utilized as an adjunct therapy for a wide variety of wounds. Despite its growing popularity, there is a paucity of evidence and lack of guidance to provide effective use of this therapy.
Methods:
A panel of experts was convened to provide guidance regarding the appropriate use of negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation. A face-to-face meeting was held where the available evidence was discussed and individual clinical experience with this therapy was shared. Follow-up communication among the panelists continued until consensus was achieved. The final consensus recommendations were derived through more than 80 percent agreement among the panelists.
Results:
Nine consensus statements were generated that address the appropriate use of negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation. The question of clinical effectiveness of this therapy was not directly addressed by the consensus panel.
Conclusion:
This document serves as preliminary guidelines until more robust evidence emerges that will support or modify these consensus recommendations.
