Retrospective 8-year analysis of negative pressure wound therapy in dermatosurgery: a single-centre experience

Abstract

Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an established treatment modality in dermatologic surgery, but proof of evidence for efficacy is inconclusive. Purpose: To evaluate patient characteristics, treatment modalities and outcomes in a single dermatosurgery centre with NPWT applied over chronic and acute surgical wounds. Methods: Of all surgical patients between 2008 and 2015, we selected those who were treated and hospitalized due to NPWT for treatment of acute and chronic wounds. The medical records of 188 patients were retrospectively evaluated and statistically calculated. Results: Method of surgical defect closure depends significantly on localization of the surgical defect, cardiovascular comorbidity and age. Hence, outcome depends significantly on the surgical situation that indexes NPWT, the underlying diagnosis and the vacuum system used, but is not associated with distinct treatment modalities or gender of the patients. Hospitalization significantly depends on the vacuum system used, surgical situation that indexes NPWT and underlying diagnoses. Conclusion: NPWT has a fixed role in distinct, well-defined clinical indications in dermatosurgery as the treatment of acute surgical wounds, fixation of skin grafts and treatment of skin substitutes, as well as an important treatment option for refractory, superinfected chronic wounds in dermatologic patients.