Rhee SM, Valle MF, Wilson LM, Lazarus G, Zenilman JM, Robinson KA, et al.
. Date of publication 2014 Sep 15;volume ():.
1. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Technologies for Chronic Wound Care in the Home
Setting [Internet].
Rhee SM(1), Valle MF(1), Wilson LM(1), Lazarus G(1), Zenilman JM(1), Robinson
KA(1).
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2014 Sep.
AHRQ Technology Assessments.
Author information:
(1)Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center
OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of negative pressure
wound therapy (NPWT) for treatment of chronic wounds in the home setting.
DATA SOURCES: On June 2014, we searched MEDLINE®, Embase®, the Cochrane Central
Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied
Health Literature (CINAHL®).
REVIEW METHODS: Two independent reviewers screened search results. We included
studies examining the use of NPWT in patients with chronic wounds, including
venous leg ulcers, arterial leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers,
and mixed etiology chronic wounds. We searched for comparative trials that
followed subjects in the home setting. We extracted data into standardized forms
and summarized results qualitatively.
RESULTS: We retrieved 5,912 citations, and found seven studies which met our
criteria for inclusion. Six of the studies compared NPWT devices to other wound
care methods. One study compared two different NPWT devices. Data were limited by
variability in the types of comparator groups, variable quality in study design,
and limited reporting of outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to draw conclusions about the efficacy or safety of
NPWT for the treatment of chronic wounds in the home setting due to insufficient
evidence. Though NPWT has been used across the wound care spectrum, significant
research gaps remain. Standardization of wound care research protocols, such as
providing consistency in comparator groups, robust randomized study designs,
larger trials, and common definitions of outcomes, would be helpful in providing
evidence to inform decisions about the use of NPWT.
PMID: 25905154
