Here - EWMA 2013

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
P 226
Poster: Devices & Intervention
NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND THERAPY: EXPLORING PATIENTS’ EXPERIENCES
THROUGHOUT THE TREATMENT PROCESS
Dominic Upton 1 , Abbye Andrews 1
1 Institute of Health & Society, University of Worcester (Worcester, United Kingdom).
Aim: In a systematic review of the literature into patients’ experiences of Negative
Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), Upton & Andrews (2013) identified a need for further
exploration of the patient experience across the treatment process. This study aims to
address this and, furthermore, to explore clinicians’ views of NPWT and its impact on the
patient and their wound.
Methods: The views of both patients and clinicians were explored. Patients were
interviewed about their experiences at each stage of the NPWT process, with a focus on
the level of pain they experience and their overall evaluation of NPWT. Clinicians were
also surveyed on their views of the treatment and their perception of the patient
experience.
Results: Current data indicates that there are specific factors which influence patients’
experiences during NPWT, from both patient and clinician perspectives. In particular, the
level of pain that is experienced, and the skin trauma that may occur, can vary between
patients with differing treatment options. Since pain has been shown to be linked with
stress and general wellbeing in wound healing, different treatment factors can also affect
the psychological wellbeing of patients and their overall experience of NPWT.
Conclusions: These preliminary findings indicate that patients’ experiences of NPWT,
such as the pain and stress they experience and their overall evaluation of the
treatment, may be affected by specific treatment options within NPWT. Such findings
could inform future improvements to NPWT and wound care in general.
POSTER: DEVICES & INTERVENTION
P 227
EVALUATION OF A NEW NPWT SUCTION PORT
Poster: Devices & Intervention
Donald Hudson 1 , Kevin Adams 1 , John Cockwill 2 , Jenny Smith 3
1 Groote Schuur Hospital (Cape Town, South Africa);
2 Smith& Nephew (St Petersberg, United States);
3 Smith & Nephew (Hull, United Kingdom).
Aim: NPWT is a well characterised device for the treatment and management of hard-toheal
wounds. The technology is based on the application of suction (negative pressure)
from a purpose built pump via tubing to a wound filler commonly either polyurethane
foam or gauze. The wound is covered by an air tight dressing which maintains the
negative pressure. One benefit of NPWT is also the ability to remove wound fluid and
divert it into a waste canister. Despite good clinical success of NPWT, some technical
difficulty can be met as a result of obstruction of the tubing for example by kinking or as
a result of the patient lying on the tubing. A new NPWT port and tubing was designed to
overcome these issues.
Method: A prospective, non-comparative evaluation was carried out on 38 patients with
acute (n=12), sub-acute (n=11) and chronic (n=15) wounds.
Results: Dressing application was successful in all attempts. The ability of the suction
port to handle wound fluid was acceptable in 97% of applications. Pressure was
maintained between dressing changes without intervention in 84% of dressing
applications despite 55% of tubes being kinked, twisted or squashed at dressing change.
The suction port conformed to the wound in 100% of applications even in those over
bony prominences and other difficult anatomical locations.
Conclusion: The new NPWT dressing port can overcome some difficulties observed
with management of standard NPWT tubing making it a more patient and nurse friendly.
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