Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

By KCI, an Acelity Company

San Antonio, TX, – May 21, 2019 – KCI, an Acelity Company, announces that the Company has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for DERMATAC™ Drape, a proprietary silicone-acrylic hybrid drape that provides both clinical and operational benefits, as an accessory to certain of KCI’s Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Systems. Constructed with a precise combination of silicone and acrylic, DERMATAC™ Drape conforms to different anatomical locations, adapting to the body and providing a tight, highly effective seal for 48 to 72 hours, including uneven areas, for wound protection, creating the ideal balance for wound healing support.

by Hy-Tape International

by Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CWS, CWCN, CFCN

Recently, we've reviewed application and documentation strategies for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), but what about navigating the different systems currently on the market? We know all devices have the mechanism of negative pressure in common, but what other characteristics need to be considered when selecting the right device for your patient? In this installment, we will become better acquainted with the characteristics of NPWT devices and how they differ for various systems.

BSamantha Kuplicki, MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CWS, CWCN, CFCN

In my previous blog installment, we touched on some foundational elements of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). So, now that we are armed with the basics of NPWT application, we need to talk about how to document it! It would seem logical to simply 'write down what was done'. But, in learning the particulars of application, we discover the colossal importance of what may be considered minutia.

By Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CWS, CWCN, CFCN

Part 1 in a series exploring topics related to negative pressure wound therapy application.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), it's so simple, right? Everyone who knows anything about wound care knows how to apply it. Wait…YOU don't? No worries—we were all there at some point. In fact, for the first year or so of my wound care endeavors, I had very little insight as to how to apply NPWT. I understood the basic tenets of therapy: exudate management/removal, increased granulation tissue development, decreased frequency of dressing changes, and decreased cost of wound care, among others.

By Bruce E. Ruben MD

Little has been shown by specific randomized controlled trials to effectively speed the healing of a non-healing wound. Biologically, the human body is capable of healing once constitutional barriers are relieved. These barriers include venous and arterial insufficiency, nutritional deficiency, deep-seated infection, and environmental barriers such as repetitive trauma.

By Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CWS, CWCN, CFCN

This is the account of a patient case in which technology, clinician experience, and patient adherence converged to save a limb.

By Samantha Kuplicki, MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CWS, CWCN, CFCN

The Patient Assessment
You've been asked to evaluate a patient for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). It turns out they're a perfect candidate, so you start the process to have the unit placed immediately! The order is entered into the EHR for the recommended settings, and the initial dressing application is scheduled.

By Margaret Heale, RN, MSc, CWOCN

So after I last wrote, I was to assist with a dressing change, as the resident is more relaxed with somebody having their focus on her and not also trying to do the procedure. I have done a million or two dressings in my time but had not seen a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) vacuum till I started helping out at the nursing home where my granddaughter works. I came across the treatment accidentally, very accidentally.

By Michael Miller DO, FACOS, FAPWCA, WCC

For those of you who cannot remember the now deceased comedian Chris Farley, did not find his humor funny or simply cannot remember any of his memorable performances; I suggest you move on to another, less controversial, "here's how to use scissors" type of blog.