Negative Wound Pressure Therapy for Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, also known as Wound VAC is a wound dressing system used by doctors & surgeons to draw out fluid and infection from a wound to ensure healthy healing. The doctors may recommend a patient NPWT if he/she is suffering from a burn, infection occurred after cesarean delivery, and traumatic as well as surgical wounds. 

But do you know that this wound vac therapy can help heal any type of ulcer including pressure, diabetes, and venous? It is also helpful in treating chronic (long-lasting) wounds or injuries. How? 

This blog will help you understand what a wound vac is and how does it help in treating diabetic foot ulcers.

Let’s start by understanding how it works.

What is a Wound Vac Therapy (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy)?

In wound vac therapy, a vacuum dressing is used to promote both acute and chronic wounds. During the procedure for wound vac treatment, the healthcare professional or wound care experts apply a foam bandage over an open wound attached with a vacuum pump. It creates negative pressure over the wound which is lower than the pressure in the atmosphere. The decreased air pressure pulls the wound edges together and draws fluid in a canister. It helps heal wounds quickly. It is also helpful in stimulating the growth of new tissue leading the wound close. The dressing is changed every 24 to 72 hours. This type of therapy involves a special dressing (bandage), tubing, a negative pressure device, and a canister to collect fluids. If wound care experts consider it necessary, they can use antibiotics and saline in the wounds. This therapy helps in many ways such as:

• Reduces swelling
• Prevents infections 
• Increased blood flow to the wound
• Less no. of wound dressing compared with other treatments etc.

Now Let’s Understand What Is Diabetic Foot Ulcer And How Wound Vac Treatment Helps.

NPWT Therapy In Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcer

A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore or wound that occurs as a result of skin tissue breaks down and are exposed to foreign materials. Usually, they occur in your feet and legs but in some cases, they can also occur in other areas as well such as hands, under the toes, and the balls of your feet, etc. People who have diabetes are more prone to develop diabetic foot ulcers. One of the very first signs of recognizing them is noticing drainage from the foot including unusual swelling, irritation, red skin, or odors from one or both feet, etc.

To treat diabetic foot ulcers, the doctors may prescribe antibiotics or other medications or in some cases, the surgery is required when there is no other treatment option that helps. Surgery can also lead to an amputation. 

A negative pressure wound therapy uses a controlled negative pressure with an attached VAC device for proper wound vac treatment. It removes fluid from open wounds through a sealed dressing and tubing connected to a canister. It is a non-invasive therapy system that promotes wound healing. According to a study, NPWT therapy reduced the requirements for subsequent amputations demonstrating the importance of this device in preventing its complications. It provides a moist environment to the wound required for the growth of tissues.

Wound Vac helps in decreasing interstitial pressure, edema and promotes a positive healing atmosphere for wounds by removing healing limiting factors. It also helps with increased blood flow and is favorable for angiogenesis and granulation promotion. It was also found that ulcers treated with wound vac were suitable for skin grafting faster than those treated with standard medical care.