Modalities/Physical Agents for Wounds Flashcards
Types of modalities/physical agents for wound healing: (3)
1) Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)
2) Hyperbaric Oxygen
3) Growth Factors
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)
Aka vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) aka Wound VAC
Sterile foam dressing placed in the wound and sealed with secondary dressing attached to vacuum pump
NPWT indications
Chronic or acute wounds that can’t be closed by primary intention (i.e. dehisced surgical incisoins, full-thickness wounds, partial-thickness burns, heavily draining granular wounds, etc)
NPWT Contraindications
Malignancy within the wound Insufficient vascularization Large amounts of necrotic tissue with excar Untreated osteomyeltiis Fistuals to organs/body cavities Exposed arteries/veins Uncontrolled pain
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Reduces edema and hyperoxygenates tissues
Inhalation of 100% O2 delivered at pressure > 1 atm in a closed chamber typically at pressures 2-3x that of the atmosphere
Hyperbaric Oxygen indications
Osteomyelitis Diabetic wounds Crush injuries Compartment syndromes Necrotizing soft tissue infection Thermal burns Radiation necrosis Compromised flaps/grafts
Hyperbaric Oxygen Contraindications
Terminal illness Untreated pneumothorax Active malignancy Pregnancy Seizure disorder Emphysema Use of certain chemotherapy agents
Growth Factors
Topical application of growth factors to facilitate healing by stimulating the activity of specific cell types (i.e. neutrophils, endothelial cells, fibroblasts)
Growth Factor Indications
Neuropathic ulcers extending into/through subcutaneous tissue with adequate circulation to sustain wound healing
Growth Factor Contraindications
Wounds closed by primary intention
Patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the product
History of neoplasm at the application site
