Negative pressure wound therapy: past, present and future

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), which was introduced as a commercial product (V.A.C. Therapy, KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX) less than 20 years ago, has revolutionised the treatment of complex wounds. Indicated for wide variety of wound types, NPWT is an adjunctive therapy that can be used safely in a range of care settings. Current research indicates that there are four primary NPWT mechanisms of action: macrodeformation, microdeformation, fluid removal and environmental control of the wound. The interaction of the primary mechanisms results in secondary effects through cell signalling (e.g. granulation tissue formation, cell proliferation and modulation of inflammation). Better understanding of the mechanisms of action also provides insight into future directions for NPWT research that could create better solutions for patients with complex wounds.