Negative Pressure Therapy System Helps Heal Complex Wounds

Simple controls are used to vary pressure from 40-200 mmHg. Both foam and gauze dressings can be used, and an intuitive design, a patient lockout feature, and quick-click connections help reduce the risk of error. Multiple safety alarms alert clinicians to changes in pressure status or pump function.

The system uses a rechargeable battery that runs for up to 40 hours and charges in 3 hours. A convenient intravenous (IV) pole and bed mounts reduce the system's footprint at the patient's bedside, and a low weight of 3 kg reduces the stress on the caregiver. Small, medium, and large dressings provide clinicians with a comprehensive range of foam- and gauze-based kits. The Renasys EZ NPWT system and gauze dressings are manufactured by Smith & Nephew (St. Petersburg, FL, USA).

"Foam may be cut easily to fit a patient's wound that has a regular contour, such as surgical dehiscence or abdominal wound,” said Robin Carlstein, senior vice president of advanced wound devices at Smith & Nephew. "For pain-sensitive patients or patients with shallow or irregular wounds, gauze may be a better choice for the wound bed. We want the clinician to be able to select the best wound interface based on the patient's needs, the wound, or the particular care setting.”

"Negative pressure has given us another tool to manage difficult wounds. The new devices and range of wound interfaces that Smith & Nephew now offer provides clinicians with greater choice for different types of clinical wound problems,” said Raymond Dunn, M.D., chairman of the plastic surgery department at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, USA). "We used the Renasys EZ to treat a wide range of acute, chronic and perioperative wounds.”

NPWT is a technique of wound closure used to promote healing in large or chronic wounds, fight infection, and enhance healing of burns. NPWT works by sealing the wound with a gauze or foam dressing and applying negative pressure to the wound bed with a vacuum tube threaded through the dressing. The vacuum may be applied continuously or intermittently, depending on the type of wound being treated and the clinical objectives. Intermittent removal of used instillation fluid supports the cleaning and drainage of the wound bed and the removal of infectious material.

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