Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Applications and Efficacy

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has emerged as a versatile modality for managing a wide array of acute and chronic wounds, encompassing diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, traumatic degloving defects and surgical incisions at risk of dehiscence. By applying controlled subatmospheric pressure through specialised dressings and a mechanical vacuum source, NPWT promotes removal of excess exudate, reduction of periwound oedema and stimulation of granulation tissue formation. Variants include closed-incision NPWT (ciNPT), used prophylactically on surgical wounds to minimise the risk of surgical site infection (SSI), and single-use portable systems designed for outpatient settings. Clinical outcomes have demonstrated accelerated time to complete epithelialisation, decreased incidence of wound complications and improved patient comfort. Economic analyses suggest potential cost savings in high-risk populations, although evidence remains heterogeneous and the balance of device cost versus resource reduction varies by health-care setting. Ongoing research seeks to refine pressure settings, dressing interfaces and patient selection criteria to optimise efficacy and broaden global accessibility, particularly in resource-limited environments.

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Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Applications and Efficacy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in negative pressure wound therapy applications and efficacy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT): A wound-management technique that applies controlled suction to promote fluid removal and tissue granulation.

Closed-incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT): Application of NPWT dressings over closed surgical incisions to prevent complications and support wound approximation.

Prophylactic NPWT (pNPWT): Preventive use of negative pressure dressings on incisions considered at high risk of infection or dehiscence.

Surgical site infection (SSI): An infection occurring at or near a surgical incision within 30 days of an operative procedure.

Granulation tissue: New connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels that form on the surface of a healing wound under NPWT.

References

1. Closed‐incision negative‐pressure therapy in high‐risk general surgery patients following laparotomy: a retrospective study. Colorectal Disease (2017).
2. Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Disposable Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Standard Care in Bilateral Breast Reduction Mammoplasty Evaluating Surgical Site Complications and Scar Quality. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2018).
3. Prophylactic closed‐incision negative‐pressure wound therapy is associated with decreased surgical site infection in high‐risk colorectal surgery laparotomy wounds. Colorectal Disease (2018).