Use of a Novel Silicone-Acrylic Drape with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Four Patients with Periwound Skin Breakdown

Abstract

Introduction. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is applied using a foam dressing and an adhesive acrylic drape to create a seal. Removal of this drape can be painful and may play a role in periwound skin breakdown during dressing changes. A novel silicone-acrylic hybrid drape (HA-drape) has been developed for use with NPWT to allow for repositioning after initial placement and easier removal. Objective. This retrospective case series reports on the use of HA-drape in 4 patients who experienced periwound skin breakdown. The goal was to minimize skin breakdown while maintaining a seal on the dressing. Materials and Methods. Four patients with mild to moderate periwound skin breakdown were selected to receive NPWT with HA-drape. Negative pressure wound therapy was applied using a reticulated open cell foam dressing followed by placement of HA-drape to create a seal. Negative pressure wound therapy was initiated at -125 mm Hg with dressing changes occurring every 2 days. Wound healing, periwound healing, and patient-reported pain were assessed at dressing changes. Results. All 4 patients showed significant periwound skin improvement after the first dressing change. All patients reported a decrease in pain with dressing removal. Conclusions. In these 4 patients' wounds, use of NPWT with HA-drape resulted in intact periwound with improved periwound skin healing and reduction in patient-reported pain associated with dressing changes.

Finite Element Analysis Modelling of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Drapes

“…Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) drape removal from the skin may be painful for patients and inadvertently cause skin damage during the length of therapy [ 12 ]. Most NPWT drapes utilize an acrylate adhesive to achieve the seal.…”