• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Course Login
  • Register

WoundEducators.com | Online Wound Care Certification Courses

Your online source for wound care certification.

  • Courses
  • About Us
    • Risk-Free Guarantee
    • Accredited Wound Care Course Info
    • Student Testimonials
    • Our Mission to Help
  • Why Certify?
    • What’s Included
    • How Hard is Wound Care Certification?
    • Wound Care Certification Cost
    • Wound Care Certification for Nurses
    • Getting Started: Wound Care Certification
  • Resources
    • Sign up for Our Newsletter
    • Search Wound Care Jobs
    • Post a Wound Care Job
    • Submit Your Resume
    • I Completed My Wound Care Course – Now What?
    • Wound Care Recertification Process
  • Certifications
    • Compare Wound Care Certification Options
    • ABWM® Wound Care Certifications
      • The CWS® Certification
      • The CWCA® Certification
      • The CWSP® Wound Care Certification
    • The WCC® Certification
    • The AWCC® Wound Care Certification
    • The CWCN® Certification
  • Blog
  • FAQ’s
  • Contact

NPWT – Removing the Pressure in Wound Management

September 1, 2011 1 Comment

0
SHARES
ShareTweetGoogle +Linkedin
PinterestRedditTumblrStumbleuponDiggDelicious

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT)  is rapidly becoming a mainstay in chronic wound management.[1] This technique is a topical intervention widely used to treat problematic acute and chronic wounds that do not respond to conventional moist wound healing techniques.  A negative pressure, typically -125 mmHg, is applied to the wound bed, removing excess exudate and helping to establish fluid balance.  In addition, NPWT is thought to stimulate granulation tissue formation, reduce interstitial edema and improve microvascular blood flow.[2-3]

How NWPT Works

The negative pressure in NPWT is applied via a tube from a vacuum device, threaded through a gauze or foam dressing that has been sealed with a transparent film.  The negative pressure may be applied continuously or intermittently, depending on the wound type and the treatment objectives

NWPT Indications

NWPT is indicated for a wide range of wounds, including chronic, acute, and traumatic wounds, partial-thickness burns, dehisced wounds, pressure ulcers, neuropathic ulcers, muscle flaps, and skin grafts. It is also useful in wounds due to arterial or venous insufficiency, wounds with exposed bone or tendons, orthopedic and degloving injuries, and wounds with exposed hardware.

NWPT Therapy Effects

NWPT therapy exerts many effects on both the gross and microscopic levels, initially reducing edema by removing the interstitial fluid and improving blood flow by allowing vessels, compressed by the excess pressure, to fully expand. NPWT is also able to reduce bacterial contamination within the wound, and offers the further advantage that dressings need to be changed only every 48-72 hours. This allows for improved patient comfort, less time spent changing dressings and a cleaner, more hygienic dressing.

Disadvantages of NWPT

Possible disadvantages of NPWT include some pain sensation on treatment, a risk of developing pressure ulcers in the areas treated, and the relative expense of the treatment, particularly over a short time frame.

Adjunctive Modalities

Wound care is changing. Adjunctive modalities are playing an increasingly important role in many aspects of wound management, and it is becoming more and more important to understand how these emerging techniques can be used for the benefit of patients. To learn more about adjunctive modalities, consider training for a wound certification exam, then enjoy the benefits of increased knowledge, improved qualifications, and enhanced job prospects.

Learn More With Our Wound Care Education Options

Interested in learning more about wound care and certification? Browse through our wound care certification courses for information on our comprehensive range of education options to suit healthcare professionals across the full spectrum of qualifications and experience.

References

  1. Hess CL, Howard MA, Attinger CE. A review of mechanical adjuncts in wound healing: hydrotherapy, ultrasound, negative pressure therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and electrostimulation. Ann Plast Surg. 2003 Aug;51(2):210-8.
  2. Ahearn C. (2009). Intermittent NPWT and Lower Negative Pressures — Exploring the Disparity between Science and Current Practice: A Review; Ostomy Wound Management; 55(6), p.2
  3. Sibbald RG, Mahoney J, VAC Therapy Canadian Consensus Group. (2003). A Consensus Report on the Use of Vacuum-Assisted Closure in Chronic, Difficult-to-Heal Wounds; Ostomy Wound Management; 49(11), p.52

Categories: Adjunctive Modalities

About the Author

Laurie Swezey's avatar

Laurie Swezey, founder and president of WoundEducators.com, has been a Registered Nurse for more than a quarter century, with most of those years dedicated to wound treatment. Ms. Swezey is a Certified Wound Care Nurse and a Certified Wound Specialist.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    October 7, 2010 at 1:07 am

    Yes,I think this article is extremely Accurate! I sufferred a great deal of pain when I (myself,being the patient,not the nurse in this case, My MD ordered a wet to dry dressing change 8Hours after an I&D surgery for a MRSA abcess in my leg. They should have, I believe pre-medicated me with Versed or Fentanyl prior to that first dsg change….because it was extremely painful(worse than being in Labor!). I subsequently sufferred with so much anxierty and fear prior to each scheduled dsg change. I had a wound vac for about 8 weeks following discaharge and had to have these dsg changes 3x per week as an outpatient. Then, when I contacted the physicain to request ani-anxiety meds prior to the dressing changes he refused to gove it to me and said:Vicodin should be just fine.

    This was by far, the worst couple of months of my life. So’ I completely validate that experiencing pain, and anticipating pain can be very depressing and detrimental to the patients emotional well being and quality of life.
    I filed a formal complaint with the hospital, regarding the neglect to relieve pain, both by the surgeon,the wound care Nurse, and staff Nurses. We has healthcare providers need to be patient advocate for our patients and demand that they are treated adequately for their pain. I had a discussion with the wound care Nurse about my “fear of pain before dsg changes causing so much panic and stress. She said “Yes, many of my patients start crying even when I just walk in their room before the dsg change”. I told her “well, that should not be happenning! You nedd to be ensuring that they are properly medicated with the appropriate medications prior to their procedure”.
    Anyway, thanks for validating my feelings in regard to pain in wound care management.
    Because of my experience, I am planning to become wound care certified, so I can serve as an advocate for my patients with these issues.
    Thank you for posting this article!
    Keri M Bartolomei RN, BSN

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Free Preview!

Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy a Free Preview of our Wound Care Certification Course!

Wound Care Certification Courses

  • MA wound care certification course MA Wound Care Certification Course $797.00
  • wound care certification for can CNA Wound Care Certification Course $797.00
  • lpn wound care certification course for lvns cwca LPN - LVN Wound Care Certification $797.00
  • RN wound care certification course for RNs registered nurses RN Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • BSN Wound Care Certification course for nurses BSN Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • OT wound care certification course for occupational therapists OT Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • PT wound care certification course for physical therapists PT Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • Nurse Practitioner Wound Care Certification for NP Nurse Practitioner Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • Physician Assistant Wound Care Certification Course for PAs Physician Assistant Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • Physician Wound Care Certification Course for MDs Physician Wound Care Certification Course $897.00
  • sales and marketing wound care certification course Sales and Marketing Wound Certification Course $797.00
  • wound care certification training course introduction to wound management Introduction to Evidence-Based Wound Management Certificate Course $347.00

Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up for our newsletter and enjoy a Free Preview of our Wound Care Certification Course!

Recent Posts

  • Wound Bed Preparation – TIME Mnemonic
  • Comparing the Cost of Wound Care Courses
  • Wound Educators Reveals Newly Updated Wound Certification Courses
  • Mistaking COVID-19 Symptoms as Pressure Injuries
  • How to Gather Safely for Memorial Day

Categories

  • Adjunctive Modalities
  • Skin Anatomy and Physiology
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Wound Assessment and Documentation
  • Wound Bed Preparation
  • Wound Care Careers
  • Wound Care Certification Exam Resources
  • Wound Certification Information
  • Wound Products
  • Wound Types
    • Arterial ulcers
    • Dermatological Conditions
    • Diabetic ulcers
    • Lymphedema
    • Miscellaneous Wounds
    • Pressure ulcers
    • Venous ulcers

Support Our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” Foundation

fundraiser logo

Join our “Where There’s a Wound, There’s a Way!™” fundraising campaign  Learn more

Footer

Payment Information

All major credit cards & PayPal accepted. All transactions are performed via a SSL secure server to ensure your privacy.

payments accepted visa mastercard amex discover paypal
Follow Us on Social Media
TwitterYoutubeFacebookLinkedinInstagram

Copyright © 2009-2018 | WoundEducators.com | All Rights Reserved
Wound Care Certification Courses Risk Free Guarantee | Terms and Policies | Sitemap