NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY (NPWT) FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF LAPAROSTOMY WOUNDS: CASE SERIES

Area of Science:

• Surgical critical care
• Wound management
• Medical device technology

Background:

• Laparostomy (open abdomen) is vital for surgical emergencies like sepsis and trauma.
• Managing open abdomens presents challenges due to high exudate and fluid loss.
• Existing treatments can burden nursing staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for complex intra-abdominal sepsis laparostomy wounds.
• To assess NPWT's efficacy in managing exudate and facilitating wound closure.
• To determine if NPWT reduces nursing burden compared to traditional dressings.

Main Methods:

• NPWT was applied to manage laparostomy wounds in five patients with complex intra-abdominal sepsis.
• Wound granulation and time to secondary closure were monitored.
• Exudate management and dressing change frequency were observed.

Main Results:

• NPWT effectively contained abdominal viscera and removed exudate.
• Full granulation for secondary wound closure took 12 to 28 days.
• NPWT simplified exudate management and reduced dressing changes.

Conclusions:

• NPWT is a valuable tool for managing complex laparostomy wounds.
• This method offers an easier approach to handling large exudate volumes.
• NPWT can decrease the frequency of wound dressing interventions.