What is negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) ?

Negative pressure wound therapy is a device that helps your wounds heal. NPWT helps your wound stay clean and healthy while it heals from the inside.

NPWT uses a bandage (dressing) that is made of a sponge or gauze-like material. This dressing is placed on or inside the wound. The wound is then covered and sealed with a cover dressing that sticks to your skin (adhesive). This keeps air out. A tube connects the cover dressing to a small pump. The pump sucks fluid and germs from the wound. The pump also controls any odor coming from the wound.

What are the benefits of NPWT?

The benefits of NPWT may include:

• Faster healing.
• Lower risk of infection.
• Decrease in swelling and how much fluid is in the wound.
• Fewer dressing changes.
• Ability to treat your wound at home.
• Shorter hospital stay.
• Less pain.

What are the risks of NPWT?

NPWT is usually safe to use. The most common problem is skin irritation from the dressing adhesive, but there are many ways to help prevent this from happening. However, more serious problems can develop, such as:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Dehydration.
• Pain.

What do I need to do to care for my wound?

• Do not take off the dressing yourself unless told to do so by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
• Make sure you know how to change your dressing, if you will be doing this at home.
• Keep the area clean and dry.
• Ask your health care provider for the best way to protect your skin from becoming irritated by the adhesive.

What do I need to know about the pump?

• Do not turn off the pump yourself unless told to do so by your health care provider, such as for bathing.
• Do not turn off the pump for more than two hours. If the pump is off for more than two hours, the dressing will need to be changed.
• If your health care provider says it is okay to shower:
  • Do not take the pump into the shower.
  • Make sure the wound dressing is protected and sealed. The wound area must stay dry.
• Check frequently that the machine is on, that the machine indicates the therapy is on, and that all clamps are open.
• If the alarm sounds:
  • Stay calm.
  • Do not turn off the pump or do anything with the dressing.
  • Call your health care provider right away if you cannot fix the problem. The alarm may go off because the battery is low, the dressing has a leak, or the fluid collection container is full.
  • Explain to your health care provider what is happening. Follow his or her instructions.

When should I seek medical care?

Seek medical care if:

• You have new pain.
• You develop irritation, a rash, or itching around the wound or dressing.
• You see new black or yellow tissue in your wound.
• The dressing changes are painful or cause bleeding.
• The pump has been off for more than two hours and you do not know how to change the dressing.
• The pump alarm goes off and you do not know what to do.

When should I seek immediate medical care?

Seek immediate medical care if:

• You have a lot of bleeding.
• You see a sudden change in the color or texture of the drainage.
• The wound breaks open.
• You have severe pain.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Red streaks leading from wound.
  • A fever.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing Care

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a device that helps wounds heal. NPWT helps the wound stay clean and healthy while it heals from the inside.

NPWT uses a bandage (dressing) that is made of a sponge or gauze-like material. The dressing is placed in or inside the wound. The wound is then covered and sealed with a cover dressing that sticks to your skin (adhesive). This keeps air out. A tube connects the cover dressing to a small pump. The pump sucks fluid and germs from the wound. The pump also controls any odor coming from the wound.

What are the risks?

NPWT is usually safe to use. The most common problem is skin irritation from the dressing adhesive, but there are many ways to prevent this from happening. However, more serious problems can develop, such as:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Dehydration.
• Pain.

How to change your dressing

How often you change your dressing depends on your wound. If the pump is off for more than two hours, the dressing will need to be changed. Follow your health care provider’s instructions on how often to change it. Your health care provider may change your dressing, or a family member, friend, or caregiver may be shown how to change the dressing. It is important to:

• Wear gloves and protective clothing while changing a dressing. This may include eye protection.
• Never let anyone change your dressing if he or she has an infection, skin condition, or skin wound or cut of any size.

Preparing to change your dressing

• If needed, take pain medicine 30 minutes before the dressing change as prescribed by your health care provider.
• Set up a clean station for wound care. You will need:
  • A disposable garbage bag that is open and ready to use.
  • Hand sanitizer.
  • Wound cleanser or saltwater solution (saline) as told by your health care provider.
  • New dressing material or bandages. Make sure to open the dressing package so that the dressing remains on the inside of the package.

You may also need the following in your clean station:

• A box of vinyl gloves.
• Tape.
• Skin protectant. This may be a wipe, film, or spray.
• Clean or germ-free (sterile) scissors.
• Wound liner.
• Cotton tip applicators.

Removing your old dressing

• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Put on gloves.
• Turn off the pump and disconnect the tubing from the dressing.
• Carefully remove the adhesive cover dressing in the direction of your hair growth. Only touch the outside edges of the dressing.
• Remove the dressing that is inside the wound. If the dressing sticks, use a wound cleanser or saline solution to wet the dressing. This helps it come off more easily.
• Throw the old dressing supplies into the ready garbage bag.
• Remove your gloves by grabbing the cuff and turning the glove inside out. Place the gloves in the trash immediately.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Cleaning your wound

• Follow your health care provider’s instructions on how to clean your wound. This may include using a saline or recommended wound cleanser.
• Do not use over-the-counter medicated or antiseptic creams, sprays, liquids, or dressings unless told to do so by your health care provider.
• Clean the area thoroughly with the recommended saline solution or wound cleanser and a clean gauze pad.
• Throw the gauze pad into the garbage bag.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

Applying the dressing

• Apply a skin protectant to any skin that will be exposed to adhesive. Let the skin protectant dry.
• Put a new dressing into the wound.
• Apply a new cover dressing and tube.
• Take off your gloves. Put them in the plastic bag with the old dressing. Tie the bag shut and throw it away.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Attach the suction and turn the pump back on. Do not change the settings on the machine without talking to a health care provider.
• Replace the container in the pump that collects fluid if it is full. Do this at least once a week.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have new pain.
• You develop irritation, a rash, or itching around the wound or dressing.
• You see new black or yellow tissue in your wound.
• The dressing changes are painful or cause bleeding.
• The pump has been off for more than two hours and you do not know how to change the dressing.
• The alarm for the pump goes off and you do not know what to do.

Get help right away if:

• You have a lot of bleeding.
• You see a sudden change in the color or texture of the drainage.
• The wound breaks open.
• You have severe pain.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Red streaks leading from wound.
  • A fever.