Negative pressure wound therapy made simple: expert panel recommendations.

Area of Science:

• Wound healing and regenerative medicine
• Medical device technology
• Clinical practice guidelines

Background:

• Chronic wounds represent a significant and growing health concern, imposing a substantial economic burden.
• Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a widely adopted adjunctive therapy for acute and chronic wounds, showing positive clinical outcomes.
• Selecting the appropriate NPWT system can be challenging due to diverse modalities and patient needs, leading to inconsistent practices and potential suboptimal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical, evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals new to NPWT.
• To simplify the selection process for optimal NPWT system use.
• To reduce uncertainty and improve consistency in NPWT application across different care settings.

Main Methods:

• An expert panel convened in November 2023 to review current literature and treatment guidelines.
• Panel members synthesized published evidence with real-world clinical experience in wound management.
• Simplified recommendations and risk assessment algorithms were developed for NPWT modality selection.

Main Results:

• The expert panel generated nine key recommendations for NPWT use.
• Guidance was developed to aid healthcare professionals in selecting appropriate NPWT modalities.
• Simplified risk assessment algorithms were created to support decision-making.

Conclusions:

• This article offers practical guidance to empower new NPWT users in making confident, evidence-based decisions.
• The recommendations aim to improve the consistent and effective use of NPWT in both hospital and community settings.
• The expert panel's work provides a framework for optimizing NPWT application and patient outcomes.