Negative-pressure wound therapy for III/IV pressure injuries: A meta-analysis

A Diagnostic-Driven Prospective Clinical Study Evaluating the Combination of an Antibiofilm Agent and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

BACKGROUND

Each year, millions of Americans develop truncal pressure ulcers (PUs) which can persist for months, years, or until the end of life. Despite the negative impact on quality of life and escalating costs associated with PUs, there is sparse evidence supporting validated and efficacious treatment options. As a result, treatment is based on opinion and extrapolation from other wound etiologies. The ideal reconstructive plan maximizes the patient's nutritional status, incorporates the basic tenets of wound bed preparation (debridement, offloading, proper moisture balance, reduction of bacterial burden), and employs diagnostics to guide therapeutic intervention. The use of combination therapies can potentially overcome several of the barriers to wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), a commonly used modality in the management of PUs, facilitates healing by stimulating the formation of granulation tissue and promoting wound contraction; however, NPWT alone is not always effective. Clinical studies examining microbial bioburden in PUs determined that most ulcers contain bacteria at levels that impede wound healing (>104 CFU/g).

OBJECTIVE

Thus, we hypothesized that adding an anti-microbial agent to decrease both planktonic and biofilm bacteria in the wound would increase the efficacy of NPWT.

METHOD

In this prospective study, twenty patients with recalcitrant PUs that previously failed NPWT were treated with a biofilm-disrupting agent (Blast-X, Next Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA) in combination with NPWT. Fluorescence imaging was used to follow bacterial burden and guide therapy.

RESULTS

In total, 45% of the PUs reduced in size over the course of the four-week study, with a resolution of bacterial fluorescence in the NPWT dressing and wound bed seen in an average of three weeks.

CONCLUSION

The combination of an antibiofilm agent and NPWT reduced bacterial levels and improved wound healing in recalcitrant PUs.

Pressure and Skin: A Review of Disease Entities Driven or Influenced by Mechanical Pressure

Skin perceives and reacts to external mechanical forces to create resistance against the external environment. Excessive or inappropriate stimuli of pressure may lead to cellular alterations of the skin and the development of both benign and malignant skin disorders. We conducted a comprehensive literature review to delve into the pressure-induced and aggravated skin disorders and their underlying pressure-related mechanisms. Dysregulated mechanical responses of the skin give rise to local inflammation, ischemia, necrosis, proliferation, hyperkeratosis, impaired regeneration, atrophy, or other injurious reactions, resulting in various disease entities. The use of personal devices, activities, occupations, weight bearing, and even unintentional object contact and postures are potential scenarios that account for the development of pressure-related skin disorders. The spectrum of these skin disorders may involve the epidermis (keratinocytes and melanocytes), hair follicles, eccrine glands, nail apparatuses, dermis (fibroblasts, mast cells, and vasculature), subcutis, and fascia. Clarifying the clinical context of each patient and recognizing how pressure at the cellular and tissue levels leads to skin lesions can enhance our comprehension of pressure-related skin disorders to attain better management.

Effectiveness of a kinesio-taping-based treatment in stage IV sacral pressure ulcers in older patients: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

As reduced tissue vascularity is one of the mechanisms that prevent skin ulcers from healing, treatments that can improve local circulation could accelerate their clinical resolution. Given that kinesio-taping (KT) can improve tissue blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, we aimed to determine whether applying KT close to stage IV pressure ulcers (PUs) could improve their healing.

METHOD

Older patients with stage IV sacral PUs, and impaired mobility and functional dependency who were consecutively admitted in a six-month period to the Home Care service of Galliera Hospital (Genoa, Italy) were screened for participation in this pilot clinical trial. Patients' PUs were divided into two treatment areas-in the experimental intervention, KT was applied close to a portion of the PU, while the contralateral portion of the same lesion was treated according to the standard protocol ('control'). The surface reduction of both portions was measured every four days, for a total of five examinations (timepoints (T2-T6) after the baseline evaluation (T1).

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients (male=5, female=7; mean age 78.83±8.94 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. At all timepoints (T2-T6), the mean percentage reduction was significantly greater in KT-treated areas than in control areas: T2=20.66% versus 6.17%, respectively; p<0.001; T3=37.33% versus 17.31%, respectively; p<0.001; T4=57.01% versus 30.06%, respectively; p<0.001; T5=69.04% versus 40.55%, respectively; p<0.001; and T6=80.34% versus 51.91%, respectively; p<0.001. Furthermore, from T3 onwards, a significantly higher number of KT-treated areas than control areas had halved in size, the maximum difference being recorded at T5 (10 versus two, respectively; p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

From the findings of this pilot study, KT would seem to be an effective, rapid, low-cost therapy for advanced sacral PUs in older patients with impaired mobility and functional dependency. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Effect of hydrocolloid dressings on preventing air leakage when applying negative pressure wound therapy to the perineum, buttocks, and sacrococcygeal region

Maintaining a vacuum when applying negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is the key to its function, which is a challenge in the perineum, buttocks, and sacrococcygeal region. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the effect of hydrocolloid dressings on preventing air leakage when applying NPWT in these regions. There were 61 patients in Group A (without the aid of hydrocolloid dressings) and 65 patients in Group B (with the aid of hydrocolloid dressings). The hydrocolloid dressing-assisted NPWT significantly reduced the incidence of air leakage compared with conventional NPWT placement (24.6% vs. 7.7%; risk ratio, 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-8.27; p = 0.009), while decreasing the number of open NPWT applications (2.2 vs. 1.7; difference, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.66; p < 0.001), shortening hospital stays (20.1 vs. 16.1; difference, 4.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-6.46; p = 0.01), and reducing the incidence of adverse skin events (18.0% vs. 4.6%; risk ratio, 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-13.34; p = 0.017). These findings support the routine use of hydrocolloid dressing-assisted NPWT placement in the perineum, buttocks, and sacrococcygeal region.

Application of negative pressure wound therapy after skin grafting in the treatment of skin cancer: A case report

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer is a common malignant tumor in dermatology. A large area must be excised to ensure a negative incisal margin on huge frontotemporal skin cancer, and it is difficult to treat the wound. In the past, treatment with skin grafting and pressure dressing was easy to cause complications such as wound infections, subcutaneous effusion, skin necrosis, and contracture. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been applied to treat huge frontotemporal skin cancer.

CASE SUMMARY

Herein, we report the case of a 92-year-old woman with huge frontotemporal skin cancer. The patient presented to the surgery department complaining of ruptured bleeding and pain in a right frontal mass. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent skin cancer surgery and skin grafting, after which NPWT was used. She did not experience a relapse during the three-year follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

NPWT is of great clinical value in the postoperative treatment of skin cancer. It is not only inexpensive but also can effectively reduce the risk of surgical effusion, infection, and flap necrosis.

The effectiveness of negative-pressure wound therapy for wound healing after stoma reversal: a randomized control study

Purpose

The purse-string closure (PSC) method is used for skin closure after stoma reversal to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). However, PSC requires a longer healing period than primary closure. The application of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) may reduce the healing period of many wound types. This study aimed to investigate whether the application of NPWT promotes wound healing after the PSC method for stoma reversal.

Methods

This study was a randomized controlled study. Patients who had undergone stoma reversal surgery were randomized to receive NPWT or simple dressing after surgery. The primary outcome was a complete wound-healing period. We also investigated SSI, hospital stay, total cost, and the patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS) as secondary outcomes.

Results

A total of 36 patients were randomized into 2 groups. The median wound healing period was shorter in the NPWT group than in the control group (17.5 days [range, 11-24 days] vs. 21.5 days [range, 14-41 days], P = 0.006). SSI rate and hospital stay did not differ between the groups. However, the number of dressings was lower in the NPWT group than in the control group (5 [range, 3-7] vs. 17 [range, 10-30], P < 0.001). The total cost for dressing was comparable between the groups. The POSAS was not different between the groups.

Conclusion

This study revealed that NPWT application after PSC for stoma reversal site is effective in reducing the wound healing period compared to simple dressing, without increasing SSI and total cost.

Severe liver trauma with complex portal and common bile duct avulsion: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Given its size and location, the liver is the third most injured organ by abdominal trauma. Thanks to recent advances, it is unanimously accepted that the non-operative management is the current mainstay of treatment for hemodynamically stable patients. However, those patients with hemodynamic instability that generally present with severe liver trauma associated with major vascular lesions will require surgical management. Moreover, an associated injury of the main bile ducts makes surgery compulsory even in the case of hemodynamic stability, thereby imposing therapeutic challenges in the tertiary referral hepato-bilio-pancreatic centers’ setting.

CASE SUMMARY

We present the case of a 38-year-old male patient with The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade V liver injury and an associated right branch of portal vein and common bile duct avulsion, due to a crush polytrauma. The patient was referred to the nearest emergency hospital and because of the hemorrhagic shock, damage control surgery was performed by means of ligation of the right portal vein branch and right hepatic artery, and hemostatic packing. Afterwards, the patient was referred immediately to our tertiary hepato-bilio-pancreatic center. We performed depacking, a right hepatectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. On the 9^th postoperative day, the patient developed a high output anastomotic bile leak that required a redo of the cholangiojejunostomy. The postoperative period was marked by a surgical incision site of incomplete evisceration that was managed non-operatively by negative wound pressure. The follow-up was optimal, with no complications at 55 mo.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the current case clearly supports that a favorable outcome in severe liver trauma with associated vascular and biliary injuries is achieved thru proper therapeutic management, conducted in a tertiary referral hepato-bilio-pancreatic center, where a stepwise and complex surgical approach is mandatory.

Negative pressure wound therapy for treating pressure ulcers

BACKGROUND

Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, pressure sores, or pressure injuries, are localised damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue, usually caused by intense or long-term pressure, shear, or friction. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been widely used in the treatment of pressure ulcers, but its effect needs to be further clarified. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of NPWT for treating adult with pressure ulcers in any care setting.

SEARCH METHODS

On 13 January 2022, we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase, and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO ICTRP Search Portal for ongoing and unpublished studies and scanned reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses, and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication, or study setting.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of NPWT with alternative treatments or different types of NPWT in the treatment of adults with pressure ulcers (stage II or above).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently conducted study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the certainty of the evidence assessment using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion with a third review author.

MAIN RESULTS

This review included eight RCTs with a total of 327 randomised participants. Six of the eight included studies were deemed to be at a high risk of bias in one or more risk of bias domains, and evidence for all outcomes of interest was deemed to be of very low certainty. Most studies had small sample sizes (range: 12 to 96, median: 37 participants). Five studies compared NPWT with dressings, but only one study reported usable primary outcome data (complete wound healing and adverse events). This study had only 12 participants and there were very few events; only one participant was healed in the study (risk ratio (RR) 3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15 to 61.74, very low-certainly evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in the number of participants with adverse events in the NPWT group and the dressing group, but the evidence for this outcome was also assessed as very low certainty (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.64 to 2.44, very low-certainty evidence). Changes in ulcer size, pressure ulcer severity, cost, and pressure ulcer scale for healing (PUSH) sores were also reported, but we were unable to draw conclusions due to the low certainly of the evidence. One study compared NPWT with a series of gel treatments, but this study provided no usable data. Another study compared NPWT with 'moist wound healing',  which did not report primary outcome data. Changes in ulcer size and cost were reported in this study, but we assessed the evidence as being of very low certainty; One study compared NPWT combined with internet-plus home care with standard care, but no primary outcome data were reported. Changes in ulcer size, pain, and dressing change times were reported, but we also assessed the evidence as being of very low certainty. None of the included studies reported time to complete healing, health-related quality of life, wound infection, or wound recurrence.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy, safety, and acceptability of NPWT in treating pressure ulcers compared to usual care are uncertain due to the lack of key data on complete wound healing, adverse events, time to complete healing, and cost-effectiveness.  Compared with usual care, using NPWT may speed up the reduction of pressure ulcer size and severity of pressure ulcer, reduce pain, and dressing change times. Still, trials were small, poorly described, had short follow-up times, and with a high risk of bias; any conclusions drawn from the current evidence should be interpreted with considerable caution. In the future, high-quality research with large sample sizes and low risk of bias is still needed to further verify the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of NPWT in the treatment of pressure ulcers. Future researchers need to recognise the importance of complete and accurate reporting of clinically important outcomes such as the complete healing rate, healing time, and adverse events.

Surgical Reconstruction of Stage 3 and 4 Pressure Injuries: A Literature Review and Proposed Algorithm from an Interprofessional Working Group

OBJECTIVE

Stage 3 and 4 pressure injuries (PIs) present an enormous societal burden with no clearly defined interventions for surgical reconstruction. The authors sought to assess, via literature review and a reflection/evaluation of their own clinical practice experience (where applicable), the current limitations to the surgical intervention of stage 3 or 4 PIs and propose an algorithm for surgical reconstruction.

METHODS

An interprofessional working group convened to review and assess the scientific literature and propose an algorithm for clinical practice. Data compiled from the literature and a comparison of institutional management were used to develop an algorithm for the surgical reconstruction of stage 3 and 4 PIs with adjunctive use of negative-pressure wound therapy and bioscaffolds.

RESULTS

Surgical reconstruction of PI has relatively high complication rates. The use of negative-pressure wound therapy as adjunctive therapy is beneficial and widespread, leading to reduced dressing change frequency. The evidence for the use of bioscaffolds both in standard wound care and as an adjunct to surgical reconstruction of PI is limited. The proposed algorithm aims to reduce complications typically seen with this patient cohort and improve patient outcomes from surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The working group has proposed a surgical algorithm for stage 3 and 4 PI reconstruction. The algorithm will be validated and refined through additional clinical research.

Evaluation of Altrazeal transforming powder dressing on stage 2-4 pressure ulcers: a clinical case series

OBJECTIVE

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are hard-to-heal, open wounds that affect millions of adults worldwide. Patients experience physical, mental, social and financial impairment. On average, <50% of stage 3 and 4 PUs heal by the sixth month. Treatment of PUs is highly variable due to a patient's comorbidities, demographics and wound characteristics. Because of this, there exists no standard dressing for PUs. Altrazeal transforming powder dressing (TPD, Uluru Inc., US) offers a promising new form of wound treatment; however, little evidence exists for TPD in the treatment of hard-to-heal PUs. This case series sought to examine the effect of TPD in hard-to-heal PUs that have previously undergone unsuccessful standard of care (SoC) wound therapy.

METHODS

This case series used retrospective data from patients with stage 2-4 PUs that failed to heal after SoC therapies. Factors examined were: number of dressing changes; time between dressing changes; time to wound closure; and pain level. While data were assessed for all patients, we focused on the six particular cases that most clearly illustrated the effect of TPD on wound healing.

RESULTS

Each of the 21 patients treated with TPD experienced successful and expedited wound closure. Stage 4 PUs took an average of 87 days with approximately six dressing changes to closure. Stage 3 PUs took an average of 41 days with approximately four dressing changes, and stage 2 PUs an average of 13 days to closure with approximately one dressing change. In the cases presented herein for which pain scores were reported, each showed a reduction in pain from an 8 or 9/10 to a 1 or 2/10 with the first dressing change.

CONCLUSION

In this case series, TPD effectively reduced pain and healed PUs that had previously failed SoC interventions. We suggest future prospective studies in order to more effectively measure the wound healing capability and healthcare utilisation of TPD for treatment of PUs.