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Why NPWT?

Clinical Efficacy
1. Acceleration of wound healing: Compared with traditional wound care treatment, NPWT:
• Accelerates chronic wound healing by 200% to 300%.
• Accelerates acute wound healing by 61%.
2. Reduced infection risk: the sealed system and fewer dressing changes mean there is less chance of wound contamination and infection³.
3. Control of exudate: prevents exudate from soiling clothes and bedclothes, and protects surrounding skin, thus enhancing patient comfort¹.
4. Rapid wound granulation, epithelialisation and contraction: NPWT stimulates new tissue growth. It may also promote well-being as the patient can see positive results quickly.

V.A.C. Therapy reduces time to healing by 16 days

Median time to complete wound closure
Blume, et al. Comparison of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (V.A.C. Therapy) to Advanced Moist Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers – a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care, 2008.

Higher proportion of healed wounds

Complete closure = 100% re-epithelialisation without drainage
Armstrong, et al. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After Partial Diabetic Foot Amputation Negative. Lancet, 2005.

Benefits for Healthcare Providers & Patients
Reduction in the number of dressing changes required: this allows the patient to rest and reduces disturbance to the wound².
Reduced pain at dressing changes: one study using NPWT with gauze found wound pain during dressing changes was absent in 80% of dressing removals⁵.
Reduced wound odour: improved management of exudate means that odour from the wound often reduces over the course of therapy⁵.
Concurrent rehabilitation: NPWT does not prevent/inhibit physiotherapy or mobilisation so patients can undergo rehabilitation simultaneously with treatment⁶.

Economic Benefits
Treatment costs: reduced frequency of dressing change and faster wound closure may help to reduce overall treatment costs⁷.
The following information is quoted from Need for Evaluating Long-Term Costs for NPWT.
Need for Evaluating Long-Term Costs for NPWT
Date Published: 30 Apr 2011
By Brahadeesh Chandrasekaran, Research Associate, Healthcare
The total cost can be further segmented into material costs and nursing costs for better understanding. Nursing time is a significant factor that influences the total costs. Figure 1 below gives a perspective of the significant contribution made by dressings and nursing care costs per week ($).

Figure 2 show the costs calculation and contribution per week for NPWT. The comparison shows that NPWT reduces the total costs for treatment in a week's time compared to the conventional dressings.
The prime factors that affect the cost of wound management include the following:
• Frequency of dressing
• Nursing time
• Healing rate
• Hospitalization


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1. Braakenburg A, Obdeijn MC, Feitz R, et al. The clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of the vacuum-assisted closure technique in the management of acute and chronic wounds: a randomized controlled trial. Plast ReconstrSurg 2006; 118(2): 390-400.
2. Mouës CM, van den Bemd GJ, Meerding WJ, Hovius SE. An economic evaluation of the use of TNP on full-thickness wounds. J Wound Care 2005; 14(5): 224-7.
3. Leininger BE, Rasmussen TE, Smith DL, et al. Experience with wound VAC and delayed primary closure of contaminated soft tissue injuries in Iraq. J Trauma 2006; 61(5): 1207-11.
4. Armstrong DG, Lavery LA; Diabetic Foot Study Consortium. Negative pressure wound therapy after partial diabetic foot amputation: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 366(9498): 1704-10.
5. Hurd T, Chadwick P, Cote J, et al. Impact of gauze-based NPWT on the patient and nursing experience in the treatment of challenging wounds. Int Wound J 2010; Jul 29 [Epub ahead of print].
6. Park CA, Defranzo AJ, Marks MW, Molnar JA. Outpatient reconstruction using integra* and subatmospheric pressure. Ann Plast Surg 2009; 62(2): 164-9.
7. Apelqvist J, Armstrong DG, Lavery LA, Boulton AJ. Resource utilization and economic costs of care based on a randomized trial of vacuum-assisted closure therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds. Am J Surg 2008; 195(6): 782-8.

Click here for literature about: Clinical and Economic Benefits of NPWT.