Editing Negative pressure wound therapy (section)

== '''Indications''' ==

* Elective and emergency laparotomy wounds for high-risk patients
* Acute surgical wounds eg debridement - can be applied immediately post op
* After grafting - associated with significant reduction in loss of graft area
* Acute open wounds - faster wound closure
* Burns - maybe
* Traumatic wounds - primary advantage is ease of application/dressing changes
* Chronic wounds - provided wound is well-vascularised - '''check pulses, and if not present, should evaluate arteries prior to placement'''
** DFU
** Pressure ulcer
** Open abdomen
** Venous stasis ulcers - particularly useful in preparing wound bed for graft and managing exudate
* Prophylactic use on large surgical wounds to prevent SSI and dehiscence - more RCTs needed
** PREVENA and PICO ''probably'' prevent SSI and dehiscence for emergency wounds - however more research needed
** Moderate certainty that these also reduce SSI in elective setting. The effect is likely more pronounced where other risk factors are present, such as diabetes, smoking, obesity and prolonged operating time.